Chateau Maris Brama Grenache Gris 2014
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Robert
Parker -
Wine &
Spirits
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Fresh, focused tropical fruits, honeysuckle, lemon rind, and buttered almonds on the nose. Medium - bodied, racy, and pure on the palate, with a lovely, elegant texture that’s lifted by the wine's acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 IGP Pays d’Oc Brama Blanc is 100% Grenache Gris and comes all from limestone and clay soils. Possessing both texture and freshness, it offers lots of spiced apple, citrus and brioche in a medium-bodied, yet concentrated style. It’s far from a simple quaffer and has real depth. It also shows the potential for Grenache Gris in the Languedoc.
Range: 89-92 -
Wine & Spirits
This is a full-bodied grenache gris from a single, biodynamically farmed hectare of limestone and clay in Minervois. While the oak barrels it matured in left a toasty, spicy impression, the richness of the golden-apple fruit predominates. The texture is almost oily, yet the snap of the acidity cleans everything up, and lets the wine last with clarity. Decant it before serving with roast fish.
Other Vintages
2015-
Wine
Spectator
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Chateau Maris is the vision of Englishman Robert Eden, who emigrated to France over 20 years ago to pursue his dream of crafting wines that reflect, rather than mask the land on which the grapes are grown. Robert's approach to winemaking is based on the fundamental premise that wine is "grown", not "made".
To craft wines that reveal the true character of the land, Chateau Maris strictly adheres to biodynamics, which is in effect a supercharged system of organic farming. Similar to organic farming, biodynamics adopts a holistic approach that views the entire vineyard as a living system that is impacted by its surroundings. Biodynamics seeks to encourage vitality in the vineyard by introducing live matter into the soil through intensive composting. In addition, biodynamics places a strong emphasis on harnessing naturally occurring cycles.
The entire estate is certified Organic as well as certified Biodynamic, using homeopathic preparations instead of chemicals on its land. The cellar itself is the only building in existence constructed entirely with hemp blocks and contains no paint, no plastic, no chemicals. Thanks to the geothermal properties of hemp, the cellar has no heating nor cooling system, making the project not only energy self-sufficient but making the project one of the few carbon-negative constructions in the world.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
French wine is nearly synonymous with fine wine and all things epicurean, France has a culture of wine production and consumption that is deeply rooted in tradition. Many of the world’s most beloved grape varieties originated here, as did the concept of “terroir”—soil type, elevation, slope and mesoclimate combine to produce resulting wines that convey a sense of place. Accordingly, most French wine is labeled by geographical location, rather than grape variety. So a general understaning of which grapes correspond to which regions can be helpful in navigating all of the types of French wine. Some of the greatest wine regions in the world are here, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Champagne, but each part of the country has its own specialties and strengths.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the king and queen of Burgundy, producing elegant French red and white wines with great acidity, the finest examples of which can age for decades. The same two grapes, along with Pinot Meunier, are used to make Champagne.
Of comparable renown is Bordeaux, focused on bold, structured red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc including sometimes a small amount of Petit Verdot or Malbec. The primary white varieties of Bordeaux are Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
The northern Rhône Valley is responsible for single-varietal Syrah, while the south specializes in Grenache blends; Rhône's main white variety is Viognier.
Most of these grape varieties are planted throughout the country and beyond, extending their influence into other parts of Europe and New World appellations.