Domaine de la Grosse Pierre
Chiroubles 2023 Grille Midi
Reviews
The Wine Advocate 90+/100
With an charming nose of crushed petals, candied blackberries and cherries, the 2023 Chiroubles Grille Midi is full-bodied, with chalky tannins that lend it significant structure. It's broad on the attack but, as the tension from the salinity and tannins takes hold, the wine thins out and narrows into a focused finish. A few years in bottle will do this wine some good.
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre, situated in Chiroubles, was founded in the 1960s by Georges Passot. Today, it is proudly managed by his granddaughter, Pauline Passot, who took over in 2018. The domaine has nine hectares in total, with holdings in Chiroubles (7.7 hectares), Morgon (0.8 hectares) and Fleurie (0.5 hectares). The vineyards are cultivated organically, with a certification expected in the near future. The team works some with copper and sulfur-based solutions but mostly with natural remedies derived from nettle, horsetail and cormon. In the cellar, the whole clusters undergo a low-temperature semi-carbonic maceration lasting one to two weeks, complemented by gentle pump-overs and infusions. In 2023, the wines matured for seven to 12 months in concrete tanks, with SO2 only added during aging and/or before bottling. Due to two hail storms, a greater percentage of the grapes were destemmed, with the Aux Craz destemmed entirely. The resulting wines are a testament to their natural origins, exuding vibrancy and personality.
