Domaine La Grange des Pères

This dazzling success story began in 1992. Having worked in the region since 1963, Laurent Vallié took over the family business in 1992, after a formative period with the greats, such as Eloi Dürrbach at the Domaine de Trevallon, Jean-Louis Chave in Cornas and Jean-François Coche-Dury in Burgundy. Under his impetus, the family estate grew to 11 hectares, on the best terroirs, and the choices made in the vineyard and cellar followed the biodynamic philosophy: chemical-free tillage, parcel-by-parcel vinification, long barrel ageing (24 months). Success was apparent from the 1st vintage, and Laurent Vallié's talent was immediately recognized. The destiny of La Grange des Pères is set! The greatest concern of today's wine-lovers is to be able to find these great bottles, which have been raised to the same level as a Romanée-Conti or Pétrus. 

On an exceptional terroir at altitude on the Arboussas massif, La Grange des Pères plots are composed of Syrah and Mourvèdre, complemented by Cabernet-Sauvignon and Counoise for the red wines; and Roussanne, Marsanne, Chardonnay and Gros Manseng for the white wines. In the IGP Pays de l'Hérault appellation, Laurent Vallié's wines contribute to the reputation of the region, where great estates such as Le Mas Daumas Gassac and La Terrasse d'Elise have revealed the potential of this terroir...

The Domaine de la Grange des Pères was created over thirty years ago when Laurent Vallié took over his father's farming estate. The land, located in Aniane in the Hérault region, underwent a veritable makeover: instead of growing cereals as his father had done, Laurent began to cultivate vines. Domaine de la grange des pères was born. This new wine estate owner turned out to be an oenological prodigy, as his first vintage of red wine won an award from Robert Parker. But today, Laurent Vallié still works with his father.

For the red vin de grange des pères, there's a skilful blend of 5 grape varieties: syrah, mourvedre, cabernet sauvignon, counoise and petit verdot. The blend of grape varieties offers full-bodied notes on the palate, with hints of the sea, olives, grilled meat and spicy ripe fruit.

For white vin de grange des pères, roussanne and marsanne are blended with gros manseng and chardonnay. While the spicy notes of the red version are present, the white version is sweeter, with notes of honey, very ripe yellow fruit and sometimes currants. On the palate, we sense the power of wax.

Like all wines, with weather conditions that cannot be predicted in advance, the vintages of La Grange des Pères follow one another but are not alike. To enjoy a good bottle of this estate on a reasonable budget (the 1992 vintage sold for a fortune), the 1998 and 2009 vintages offer an excellent tasting experience. But if you want an exceptional experience, the ideal choice is the 2014 vintage.

La grange des pères red is a perfect match for dishes with character. It goes just as well with a rib of beef as it does with a haunch of venison in cep sauce. It can also be served with seafood dishes or poultry such as duck.

A bottle of white Domaine de la Grange des Pères will go wonderfully well with seafood, both fish and shellfish. How about sea bream? Or scorpion fish?