Clos du Gravillas is based in the village of Saint-Jean de Minervois in the shadow of the Montagne Noir in the Minervois region of Languedoc-Roussillon. The 6-hectare estate is owned and run by American John Bojanowski and his wife Nicole who hails from Narbonne. They began in 1999 with just 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. 'Sous les Cailloux des Grillons' is a heady blend of 7 different grapes, no less: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Grenache, Counoise, Terret Gris and Mourvedre, all from young vines grown on pure white gravel. Aged in tank, this is a fresh and approachable red that will pair well with steak. The name refers to the crickets (grillons) that take shelter at night under the various vineyards' gravel stones (cailloux).
A deep ruby in colour. On the nose aromas of blackberries, figs and red cherries. On the palate, savoury and fresh with notes of cinnamon, cloves and liquorice leading to a spicy finish. Try with poulet a l'ail with plenty of garlic, cold beef spare ribs with cracked peppercorns and potato salad or Pistache d'Agneau - slow cooked shoulder of lamb with ham, orange rind and black olives.