Scent of ripe apples. As ever, not an obvious fruit wine, but textured and quite concentrated, with that volume given citrus and almond nuances. Now-2010

Product Code: GRV608

Owned by the Orosquette family, and named after the gravelly soil on the Etang de Marseillette, Château La Grave lies in the south-western part of the Minervois, now known as Les Balcons de l’Aude. The Expression
wines here are consistently good. The unusual white is based on a parcel of old vine Maccabeu, with Vermentino and Marsanne, which makes for a surprisingly weighty wine at the price. Their rosé, made largely from Syrah with Grenache, is always a real charmer. This year we return to the Tristan et Julien red, about half Syrah and Grenache, ripely soft and uncomplicatedly enjoyable.