2023 Côtes du Rhône, Graveirette - Rhone

In the sunny southern Rhône valley between Mont Ventoux and the hills of the Dentelles de Montmirail, in the village of Bédarrides near Courthézon, you’ll find the estate run by Julien Mus known as Domaine de la Graveirette. He established the domaine in 2005 after his studies in Beaune, and by 2014 his vineyards were certified organic, followed by full biodynamic certification (Demeter) by 2015. The vineyard holdings are about 20 ha in total, of which around 4 ha are devoted to the Côtes du Rhône appellation. The terroir? Think sandy–clay soils with those classic Rhône river pebbles and a warm Provençal sun — vines rooted in sandy clay with pebbles which help retain heat and reflect it back into the grapes.

This 2023 vintage is 100% Grenache Noir (quite bold these days to do a pure Grenache at this level) from those vineyards by the Ouvèze river, brought up purely in concrete vats to preserve fruit clarity and vibrancy. On the nose you’ll find wild cherries, raspberries, a touch of pink pepper and herbal suggestions like bay leaf. On the palate it’s juicy and warm, with velvety tannins and a savoury finish that gives it great drink-now appeal.

Food-wise: think grilled pork ribs or char-grilled pork cutlets (to match that juicy, cherry-berry core) or even a Provençal lamb shoulder with herbs. Serve it at around 16-18 °C and you’ll really bring out the complexity. It’s lively enough for immediate drinking but could stand a couple of years if you like a bit more depth.