AOC: Minervois
Blend of Grenache blanc and gris, and Macabeo
This fabulous wine, translated as The Unexpected, is the result of the old vine Grenache gris and some Grenache blanc.
A full, dry, rich, and complex wine that is also lightly herbal and creamy with nice minerality and acidity on the finish. After a light pressing the must is chilled and allowed to settle. The Grenache is fermented and aged 12 months on lees in 400- liter barrels made from oak trees harvested in central France’s Allier forest. This oak is more tightly-grained than others and is known to produce a more “elegant wine.” Perfect for fish dishes and strong cheeses.
Ratings and Reviews from March 2012 of Jeb Dunnuck’s Rhone Report:
Clos du Gravillas Minervois L’inattendu (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois) A serious white, the 2009 Clos du Gravillas Minervois L’inattendu is an outstanding blend of Grenache Blanc that’s fermented and aged in barrel, on lees, for 12 months. It delivers a decidedly rich, yet beautifully pure and mineral-driven profile, possessing crisp, slightly honeyed fruits, lemon curd, brioche, flowers, and dried stone like aromas that flow to a medium-bodied, concentrated, and yet fantastically fresh, and elegant palate. Improving in the glass, this is an impressive wine, which given the acidity and concentration, should have an aging profile similar to a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, with 2-3 years of prime drinking now, and then again at age 6-7. Very well done and worth checking out! (91 pts.)
Robert Parker Review March 2017 93 pts