Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La Ciaude Minervois 2012 | Burgundy Meets Languedoc

The Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La Ciaude Minervois 2012  is drawn from an old-vine mix of deep-rooted Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache.  This lavish 2012 is deep red to the rim while the nose alone is well worth the price of admission.   In addition, infused with a primary-fruit mix of black cherry, blackberries, and sweet spice.  Hence, rich and silky on the attack, packed with a juicy mix of raspberry, cassis, and violets.   Together, all braced by the mineral persistence imparted by the limestone soil.

While mostly old-vine Carignan with smaller parts Syrah and Grenache, the wine offers serious minerality.   In addition, it brings tangy black cherry, black fruits, leather and violet aromas, and flavors.  As a result, the Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La Ciaude Minervois 2012 expresses a medium-bodied, tight, energetic elegance. Plus, it will have a decade of longevity.

Red Wine Gems under $35

Winemaker Anne Gros and partner Jean-Paul Tollot fashion serious, structured and age-worthy efforts from their estate in Minervois.  The wines have vibrant, if not crunchy, acidity, good concentration, and beautifully made profiles.  These wines will benefit from short-term cellaring. While I hate to use the term Burgundian here, these efforts certainly have a tension and energetic feel that’s unique to the region.

Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot

This is the last of our half price, importer clearance offers from Anne Gros whom Jancis Robinson MW calls “one of the most respected wine producers” in the world. In collaboration with Jean-Paul Tollot, Gros makes critically acclaimed wines that show all the power and sun-drenched concentration of Southern France.  Yet drink with the finesse and grace you would expect from two of Burgundy’s finest winemakers.

This 2012 “La Ciaude Minervois” is drawn from 108-year-old Carignan, with Syrah, and Grenache grown on a south facing limestone and clay hillside. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate scored this 91 points praising its “serious minerality to go with tangy black cherry, black fruits, leather and violet aromas, and flavors.”

Described as “energetic and elegant” the Advocate said that “it will have a decade of longevity.” Elsewhere $37.99, today from Wine Access only $17.99. they are so delicious to drink now, they are hard to resist. Yet I suspect the wines will be long-lived. If you love balanced red wines with lots of fruit this are wines you really must try!

Caps off for this brilliant effort from Gros.   Clear evidence of why Jancis Robinson counts her among the world’s most respected wine producers.

Winemaker Anne Gros

Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot, two winegrowers in Burgundy for over 20 years.  Together, they have combined their expertise to serve the fine terroirs in Cazelles, in the Minervois !!! Love at first sight ?… Absolutely! Reflection ?… Of course!

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Anne Gros, the only daughter of François Gros, has established a solid character and reputation in the wine world after taking over her father’s Domaine in 1988.  At 25 years old, Anne saw the family Domaine grow from 3 to 6.5 ha. Recently, she invested in a new cellar. She is a winegrower suspicious of certitude and fastidious about maintaining her freedom.

As a woman winegrower, Anne proved to herself and convinced all who doubted of her ability to manage a Domaine. She showed that she had not only the shoulders but the head to make her family heritage one of the greatest Domaines of Burgundy.

In 1984 she had to stop studying Arts to study viticulture and enology in Beaune and Dijon. Now her passion for vine and wine as well as her talent, sensitivity and professionalism position her as a winemaker amateurs can rely on.