La Cour des Grâces "Côtes-du-Rhône" Rouge, Rhône Valley, France 2021

FROM FRANCE + WESTERN:

THE WINE: From old vine Grenache and Mourvèdre.

THE PRODUCER: I discovered an amazing new Côtes du Rhône from two guys in Saint Rémy de Provence, whom I met via Audrey Arlon at Domaine des Trois Filles in Bandol. Thierry Pommet was a sommelier at several Michelin-starred restaurants in the South of France and represents Audrey’s Bandol across France, and his partner Daniel Orsolini makes wine for the Rothschild family and various private label projects for clients across the country. Their La Cour des Grâces project is sourced from organic growers in the Southern Rhône, and vinified by Claude Serra at Bastide Sainte Dominique. From the various small lots we tasted together, my favorite was from a lieu-dit in the Côtes du Rhône Villages town of Fournès. Named “Le Pré des Suves,” it is covered with large galets stones and bright orange iron-rich clay (see photo) and planted to old bush vines of Grenache and Mourvèdre that produce a radiantly juicy red that punches high above its everyday price tag.