The 6-hectare Clos du Gravillas is based in the village of Saint-Jean de Minervois in the Languedoc-Roussillon and is owned and run by American John Bojanowski and his wife Nicole who hails from Narbonne. They began in 1999 with 1 hectare of ancient Carignan and Grenache Gris vines and over the past few years have acquired more land and planted more vines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Mourvedre. The estate is run strictly along organic lines and today produces some of the finest wines of the region. 'Lo Vielh' is 100% Carignan from the afore-mentioned vines, first purchased by the Bojanowskis in 1999. Situated in a tiny 2 hectare plot, the vines are over 100 years old and yields are necessarily low. Aged in large oak demi-muids, only 3,000 bottles were made.
A dark purple-crimson in colour. Complex vegetal aromas of olives combined with notes of toffee and cocoa. On the palate, bright and lively with well-balanced tannins and a hint of sweet fruits. The finish is lively and lingering with further black fruit notes. Try with venison and sweet potatoes, roasted duck breast with a fig sauce or a chuck of Beaufort cheese.