The rarest wine in the Clos du Gravillas range: a single-variety Carignan from vines planted in 1911 that the Bojanowskis saved from being uprooted, fermented slowly for six months in 400-litre Allier oak barrels with virtually no sulphur. A once-in-a-generation Carignan.
Tasting Notes
Deep, dark ruby. The nose is a serious thing: blueberry ripe with liquorice, tobacco, a meaty depth, and hints of mineral earth that smell like ancient stone walls. On the palate it is powerful yet pure, with velvety dark fruit, great concentration, and a long, mineral finish. The fermentation lasts around six months — the patience shows in every sip.
Quick Facts
- Grape: 100% Carignan (vines planted 1911, over 100 years old)
- Origin: France, Languedoc, Minervois (Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, 300m altitude)
- Style: Dry organic red, virtually no sulphur, aged in Allier oak demi-muids
- Winemaking: Hand-picked in 15kg boxes, sorted in the vineyard, 6-month slow fermentation, 12 months in French demi-muids, indigenous yeast, Ecocert certified
Food Pairing
Salmis de pintade, veal, game, and aged hard cheeses. A wine for a proper winter meal.
Serving
Serve at 16-18°C. Decant for 30 minutes.
About the Producer
Clos du Gravillas is the project of Nicole and John Bojanowski, a Franco-American couple who purchased their 8-hectare estate in Saint-Jean-de-Minervois in 1996. Perched on a limestone and gravel plateau at almost 300 metres altitude, between the Saint Chinian and Minerve canyons, they farm organically with a focus on biodiversity and soil health. John's background in ecology shapes the estate's philosophy, and they work with 18 different grape varieties, including many ancient and forgotten Languedoc varieties. Long associated with the natural wine movement, Clos du Gravillas is distributed by Les Caves de Pyrene and found on some of the world's finest restaurant lists.
