Guillaume Gonnet, Cairanne, Le Brave, Southern Rhône, France, 2020

Producer Profile

The energetic and charismatic Guillaume Gonnet is not your average Rhône winemaker.

Extremely open in his attitude, his curious, boundary-challenging approach extends far beyond wine. He has travelled to the far ends of the earth, revelling in the opportunity to surf some of the best waves in the world while learning his craft in various Australian and New Zealand regions. Returning to the Rhône with his Australian wife Kelly, Guillaume has put similar energy into his family estate and his new-found enthusiasm for Grenache-based wines. Pursuing biodynamics wherever possible, allowing the fruit to express itself freely through hands-off winemaking and displaying a fascination for the varying soils of the Rhône in his diverse wines, he’s just the sort of restless creative that we love to work with.

Viticulture

The vines are situated on a plateau near the village, with a southern exposure. The soil is a mix of limestone, clay and sand. Vines are around 45 years old and planted at a density of 3000 vines per HA. All grapes are harvested by hand.

Winemaking

Vinified and aged in concrete tanks.

Tasting Note

The nose is packed full of Cassis, Grenadine, and the "to be expected" pure Provencal aromas of “garrigue” (local herbs). The mouth follows the nose but is more complex with kirsch, fig, stewed blackberries, black olive tapenade and liquorice. Lovely soft, round tannins.

Food Matching

Works extremely well with Provencal beef stew but works equally well with a wide range of foods.