2023 Domaine La Manarine - Cotes du Rhone (750ml)

Domaine la Manarine was founded in 2001 by Gilles Gasq, who honed his craft as an assistant at Domaine Monpertuis in Châteauneuf-du-Pape before striking out on his own on a plateau northeast of Orange, in the commune of Travaillan. Gasq has steadily expanded his holdings ever since, and the estate now farms around thirty-three hectares organically, most of it on the celebrated Le Plan de Dieu terroir, known for its deep beds of hard limestone galets. In 2015 he came full circle, purchasing a small parcel of Grenache in Châteauneuf-du-Pape itself, not far from where he first learned to make wine.

This Côtes du Rhône is made entirely from Grenache, drawn from vines averaging around thirty-five years old, planted in Le Plan de Dieu's deep limestone pebble soils under a hot, dry Mediterranean climate. In keeping with the estate's minimal-intervention philosophy, fermentation begins spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, and the wine is bottled without fining, with only a light filtration applied if needed.

The wine shows a dark, rosy ruby color, leading with roasted strawberry typical of southern Rhône Grenache, followed by a basket of exotic spice: orange peel, cardamom, white pepper, rosemary, and lavender. Full-bodied and richly fruited yet dry, it has real character. It pairs well with roasted meats, grilled sausages, or hearty stews.