Brotte Création Grosset Cairanne 2021
Price: $19.95
Channel: LCBO Vintages
Producer: Maison Brotte
Country: France
Region: Provence (Rhône)
Appellation: Cairrane AOC
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèrdre, Carignan
Alcohol by Volume: 14.5%
Sugar Content: 3 grams per litre
The Brotte family hails from Châteuneuf-du-Pape. The Grosset vineyard, if my French literacy is assez fonctionnel, was acquired relatively recently through marriage of the current, 4th generation, vigneron. New though the Grosset parcels may be to the family, they include about 60 acres of 100 year old Grenache vines. I mean no dispersion on the charms of the former Mademoiselle Grosset, but I hope that Monsieur Brotte understands he is a lucky man in more ways than one.
Here is an elegant red from the South of France. Clean and clear with an attack of red Grenache fruit that dissolves into violets and black Syrah and company fruit. But under that elegance is a strong, if lean, musculature; a Baryshnikov or Karen Kain. Wines like this are where the Southern Rhône gets interesting.
Nine years ago when the vineyards around the village of Cairanne were organized into their own AOC, splitting off from Côtes-du-Rhône, I thought to enjoy them while I could. Surely the prices would go up to find their place against rivals Gigondas and Vacqueras. Not yet; the quality to price ratio on Cairanne generally, and the Brotte Création Grosset 2021 specifically, remains high. Still don’t think it can last, but glad it is.
This wine wants red meat and/or grilled vegetables with lots of garlic.
https://www.lcbo.com/en/brotte-grosset-cr-cation-cairanne-2017-33852
This wine recommendation was originally published at the MJ Wine Box Substack at https://malcolmjolley.substack.com/p/no-panic-organic.