Domaine Les Pallières - Gigondas Les Racines 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Described as "a superb garden of vines, clinging to the back of the Dentelles de Montmirail", Domaine Les Pallières, owned by the Brunier family and the famous Kermit Lynch, produces vintage after vintage of the finest Gigondas in the appellation. Facing due north, these no fewer than 110 hectares are planted with Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Clairette and Bourboulenc grapes, with a high proportion of limestone. The les-terrasses-du-diable cuvée comes from the higher altitude plots, while les-racines comes from the vines surrounding the old farmhouse, where the terroir is more clayey.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the domain :

Since 1998, Frédéric and Daniel Brunier (Vieux télégraphe) have been running these 25 hectares of vines, set against the north face of the Dentelles de Montmirail and planted with old Grenache (80%), but also Surah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Clairette. On this sloping terroir, partially covered with limestone scree, with a sandy-clay surface layer, the solution is to create "staircase terraces", so as to create a succession of horizontal planes that can be ploughed and retain rainwater.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Under the name Vignobles Brunier, we have grouped together the estates of Vieux Télégraphe, La Roquète (which became Accent de La Roquète from the 2011 vintage) and Les Pallières, in Gigondas, all owned by the Brunier brothers. Three benchmark estates. The splendid pebbles of the Crau, a warm terroir, are the source of the typicality of Vieux Télégraphe wines. The estate produces an important and unique cuvée of great regularity. Grapes with little or no destemming, matured in old foudres, produce rich wines that need long cellaring to dissipate their energy. They then reveal all the minerality of this superb terroir. Located in the center of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the vineyards are planted mainly on the Pielong plateau and the sandier Pignan district. From 2011, La Roquète becomes Accent de La Roquète, produced from the finest grapes. The wines are always straightforward and pure, more elegant than imposing. The rest is downgraded to cuvée Le Télégramme, a newcomer to the French market. And finally, Domaine Les Pallières, a magnificent Gigondas vineyard terraced beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail. The wine expresses itself in a deep, structured style, without heaviness.