Domaine Gramenon La Belle Sortie 2022

Domaine Gramenon sits in the Drôme, in the northern reaches of the southern Rhône, where Maxime-François Laurent farms biodynamically and works with native yeasts and minimal sulphur. La Belle Sortie is the estate's lighter, early-drinking cuvée, a blend of Grenache and Syrah grown on clay and limestone soils that retain freshness through the warm summers. The fruit is fermented and raised for around six months in old wooden vats and concrete rather than new oak, so there is no wood flavour to mask the grapes. Concrete is neutral and breathes gently, keeping the wine fresh and focused on bright fruit, while the natural, low-intervention handling gives it a juicy, supple texture. It is a pale to medium ruby, perfumed with raspberry, cherry and redcurrant, white flowers and a peppery, dried-herb edge from the Syrah and the garrigue. The palate is light and energetic, low in tannin and built around crunchy red fruit and a savoury finish. Serve cool, at 14 to 15 degrees, in a plain glass. It is a natural match for charcuterie, roast chicken and grilled salmon.