The Wine
Grange de Pères 2016
Profile:
Domaine de la Grange des Pères, founded in 1989 by Laurent Vaillé near Montpellier, Languedoc, is renowned for crafting wines that epitomize precision and terroir. The 2016 vintage, a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Counoise, comes from low-yielding goblet vines, some with cuttings originally sourced from the esteemed J-L Chave vineyards. Deep in color, the wine presents a youthful yet complex bouquet of black cherries, Provençal herbs like fennel and thyme, and subtle hints of Côte-Rôtie gaminess, balancing intensity with elegance.
On the palate, the 2016 vintage reveals itself to be youthful and still evolving, with a strong structure that suggests further aging will allow it to reach its full potential. The robust, backward palate is rich with dark fruit, savory spices, and earthy undertones, balanced by finely integrated tannins. With its assured profile, the 2016 Grange des Pères is a perfect expression of Vaillé's winemaking philosophy—a bold, yet elegant wine that commands attention now but will reward those patient enough to cellar it.
Tasting Notes: Dark, savory, and sublime, with notes of damp earth, rich dark fruit, and strong tannins.
Wine Facts
- producer: Granges des Pères
- varietal: Syrah & Mourvèdre
- country: France
- vintage: 2016
- region: Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc
- size: 750ml
The Collector
Jeff CarrollManaged Inventory client since 2014.“I own Wine Dad’s in Hoboken and Jersey City, and I sell fine & rare wine through Wine Equity Society, so I have an ‘inside track’ on sourcing wine. I used to carry this wine in my store, even as a hard-to-get cult favorite, but since the unexpected passing of the winemaker in a 2021 accident, the wines of his day are now more limited than ever. When that happened, I held on to the last case of his wine that I had, to savor his beautiful Syrah slowly over the years.”
I held on to the last case of his wine that I had, to savor this beautiful Syrah slowly over the years.
The Commentary
Vineut Rare and Vintage Wines
Violet hue in the glass, the nose is fragrant and alluring with raspberry coulis, pepper and garrigue notes. Pure and persistent on the palate with the same aromatics. It has firm, chalky tannins behind the fruit and there’s a lovely acidity and freshness on the finish providing balance. Includes Counoise in the blend.
