Clos Du Gravillas L’Inattendu Minervois Blanc AC – 2023

Certified organic. A blend of 50% Grenache Gris, 30% Grenache Blanc and 20% Macabeu from 50-90 year old vines grown on rocky limestone soils.

“Clotted cream and vanilla, grilled mango and richness and then wave after wave of exquisitely precise, glittering, crystalline mica-mineral dust and sweet-orange acidity. This is exceptional. The combination of expansive richness, high-voltage but super-ripe acidity, smoky minerality and mosaic of flavours fills every corner of the mouth with thrilling vibration.” 17.5/20pts Jancis Robinson and her wine of the week in October 2024. 13.5% alcohol.

This rich, mineral, dry white wine would be perfect served with typical Mediterranean cuisine, garlic and parsley, peppers, poultry and sheep or goat’s cheese.

217 cases were produced. Drink now – 2027

Clos du Gravillas is a wonderful, tiny family domaine of only 8.5 hectares founded in 1999 by American John Bojanowski and his wife Nicole, a local lady who was born and bred in the Minervois region. Their vineyards are situated about 40 minutes drive north of Narbonne outside the sleepy village of St Jean de Minervois, on the Cazelles-Minervois plateau (which is destined to become the next Languedoc Cru later this year). It is hot and dry down on the Languedoc plains, but up here at 300m altitude the combination of their amazingly stony terroirs – a mix of limestone and white gravel – and the cooling Mistral winds keep the temperature a few degrees cooler. The limestone also retains water very efficiently, which is vital in this dry region which receives only around 600mm rainfall p/a.

The domaine is worked 100% organically (Ecocert) with respect for the terroir, without herbicides and with the utmost care for the preservation of soil life. Key to their fantastic wine quality is the rigorous selection they make when they manually pick only the ripest and most perfect grapes.

They specialise in growing local Languedoc grapes on very old vines. Their Grenache Gris vines were planted in the 1940s. The pink-coloured Grenache Gris grapes form the basis of their L’Inattendu white – so called because they expected the wine to be a rosé when they first made it! John is now a huge fan of Grenache Gris, which he believes has far more character and personality than Grenache Blanc. The Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc and Macabeu grapes which form L’Inattendu Blanc are fermented in large Austrian oak barrels and then matured for nine months on their lees to give extra depth of flavour.