Laurent Vaillé‘s Domaine de la Grange des Pères – Cult Wine from Languedoc

If we ever questioned why Laurent Vaillé‘s Domaine de la Grange des Pères Red has attained cult status, a recent tasting of an early 2000s vintage presented us the answer. It was near perfection. Layers of earthy, herbal complexity balanced by sweet, joyous, mature dark fruits and all the hallmark aromatics of the Languedoc terroir including garrigue, olive, and spice, to name just a few. It was truly one of the most complex yet exuberant wines ever to pass our lips.

Laurent’s 25 acre property is situated near the village of Aniane, next to the late Aimé Guibert’s Mas de Daumas Gassac (another superstar of the region). Many believe that Laurent has eclipsed his neighbor in wine terms. Indeed, it took dynamite and bulldozing to clear twice the amount of limestone, boulders, and glacial scree that is found in neighboring vineyards to reveal Laurent’s exceptional terroir. This is an area of the Languedoc that is known to produce some of the greatest wines in the region. Laurent’s vineyards are technically within the rising appellation of Terrasses du Larzac but since he uses a portion of grape varieties that are not allowed he has declassified the wine to Vin de Pays de l’Hérault.

The path to glory started with training under such masters as Jean-François Coche-Dury (Meursault), Gérard Chave (Hermitage), and Eloi Dürrbach (Domaine Trévallon, Provence). This background in wine-craftmanship is evident in every bottle that comes from his cellar. It also helps that he sourced his Syrah cuttings from Chave and his Cabernet Sauvignon from Domaine Trévallon.

Laurent employs organic practices in the vineyard and his south-facing vines yield small amounts of fruit, making for highly concentrated wines. The blend for his red wine is generally around 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Counoise. All varieties are harvested and vinified and then aged in 228 liter barrels separately. Laurent will then master the blend in a proportion that satisfies him before bottling. For the white, the blend is 80% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 10% Chardonnay, and the juice is blended before being put into barrels for secondary fermentation, then aged in demi-muids

With an annual production of less than 3,000 cases Laurent’s wines are highly allocated so we have a very limited supply. All prices based on the purchase of a 6-pack (mix and match).

Available sizes and vintages of Domaine de la Grange des Pères RED:

750 ml

$135 Grange des Pères (2012)

$117 Grange des Pères (2013)

$117 Grange des Pères (2014)

$126 Grange des Pères (2015)

1.5 L

$261 Grange des Pères (2011)

$261 Grange des Pères (2013)

$261 Grange des Pères (2014)

$261 Grange des Pères (2015)

Available sizes and vintages of Domaine de la Grange des Pères WHITE:

750 ml

$126 Grange des Pères (2015)

1.5 L

$261 Grange des Pères (2014)

$261 Grange des Pères (2015)

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Posted on 2019.07.08 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Languedoc-Roussillon