CLASSIC RANGE
We love wine. Lots of different kinds of wine. And we’re blessed with being in a part of the world where the range of climates, slopes, altitudes and soils allow us to grow lots of different grapes and to produce a surprisingly broad selection of red, white, pink and sparkling wines.

CABERNET SYRAH

CABERNET SYRAH
Les Deux Aristos – The Two Aristocrats
Like its white sibling, the Piano and the Clarinet Chardonnay-Viognier, this is a blend of two classic grape varieties that work in perfect harmony. When we first pioneered the style – selecting grapes from some very special vineyards in our corner of Southern France – our neighbours said we were crazy, but it’s a partnership that has a long tradition in Bordeaux and more recently Australia. The secret to its success lies in our having perfect gravelly soil for the Cabernet Sauvignon and clay and limestone for the Syrah – and to Hugh Ryman’s experience making wine in Bordeaux and South Australia.
TASTING NOTES
The blackcurrant and bell pepper flavours of the Cabernet Sauvignon, seem to have been destined to be married with the spicy, brambley, gently peppery Syrah. The vanilla character of the oak is present but subtle and the tannins are softer than in many Cabernets. A very luxurious drink; silky & satisfying.
FOOD STYLE
Good with a range of red meat dishes but its soft fruity character makes this a very attractive wine to drink by itself.
CLICK HERE
to download the Cabernet Syrah technical sheet pdf
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah
IGP PAYS D’OC
Vineyards around Puichéric, Jouarres-Homps and the hilly areas of Caunes-Trausse, Minervois
6 months, aged in French & American oak.
3 Years
13.5%
3.3 g/L
3.71
5 g/L
Mediterranean
100 – 400m
Alluvial slopes for the Cabernet, Clay & Limestone Terraces for the Syrah
20 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low – 70hl/ha
Mechanical harvesting at night to maintain freshness

SYRAH

SYRAH
La Guitare Electrique
The Syrah is the most extraordinary grape. Like the greatest guitar solos, it can be lyrical and wild and sensual, all at the same time. And the soils and microclimates of the carefully chosen vineyards in our ancient part of Southern France perfectly bring out all of its spicy, blackberryish character. We were among the very first to allow it to really express itself in this way, but a black sheep never follows the herd.
TASTING NOTES
Dark red purple colour , intense aromas of black olive, black pepper with a touch of spice. Soft tannins balanced with a good acidity with lingering blackcurrant flavours combined with subtle vanilla.
FOOD STYLE
To accompany pasta dishes, red meat and mildly spiced dishes are a perfect match.
CLICK HERE
to download the Syrah technical sheet pdf
100% Syrah
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc-Roussillon
Partial
5 Years
13.4%
6.9 g/L
3.55
1 g/L
Mediterranean
150 – 250m
Calcareous and on terraces and slopes
30 – 45 years old
4000 Vines/ha
4 – 5000 kg/ha
Mechanical

MALBEC

MALBEC
Le Capricieux –Playful
The French musical term capricieux means ‘playful‘, and that’s how we’ve always seen the Malbec vines which surprise us every year with their deeply fruity and subtly spicy, plummy, blueberryish wines. We were among the first in our ancient region of Southern France to make this style, from a set of very special vineyards with varied soils and altitudes.
TASTING NOTES
Deeply coloured, soft, plummy and cherryish, with hints of violet. The use of oak is deliberately delicate to maintain the fruity, easy drinkability of the wine. A great marriage of the fruity appeal of Argentine Malbec with the subtler, more structured and mineral-noted examples from Cahors in France.
FOOD STYLE
Perfect with all full-flavoured meat dishes, and is as ideal with traditional French and international cuisine.
CLICK HERE
to download the Malbec technical sheet pdf
100% Malbec
IGP PAYS D’OC
Village of Homps & Pépieux, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon
Nil
3 Years
13%
3.45 g/L
3.65
4 g/L
Mediterranean
150m
Alluvial slopes
20 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low – 80hl/ha
Mechanical harvesting at night to maintain freshness

VIOGNIER

VIOGNIER
L’Abricot et le Gingembre – Apricot and Ginger
The Viognier is an extraordinary grape with flavours of apricot and ginger and honeysuckle perfume – hence the name. We were among the first to produce it in our region – from very special vineyards where this often tricky variety ripens perfectly.
TASTING NOTES
Viogniers are often over-oaked. We wanted our wine to display the floral, exotic of this grape and itw as crucial that it would be a great accompaniment to food. The wine has extra freshness, and pineapple and melon notes that fo with it’s delightful mango and apricot flavours. The wine saw no oak. A truly, classy example of this variety.
FOOD STYLE
Great with oriental food, by itself or with all fish and white meat dishes.
CLICK HERE
to download the Viognier technical sheet pdf
100% Viognier
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc-Roussillon
Nil
3 Years
13%
3.8 g/L
3.4
3 g/L
Mediterranean
200m
Clay and limestone slopes
15 Years
4000 vines/ha
Low-70hl/ha
Mechanical harvesting at night to maintain freshness

CHARDONNAY

CHARDONNAY
Le Piano et la Clarinette – The Piano and the Clarinette
One of the first wines we produced, like its red sibling, Les Deux Aristos, this is a blend of two classic grape varieties – Chardonnay and Viognier – that work in perfect harmony. Chardonnays come in many styles, from light, acidic and minerally to rich, buttery and oaky. We wanted to make neither of these. Our ambition was a wine that was satisfying, yet fresh, and with a sufficiently interesting flavour to capture the imagination – and that’s where the perfumed notes of the Viognier came in. From the outset, it was crucial that it would be a great accompaniment to food, while being perfect to drink by itself.
TASTING NOTES
This is a fresh wine, with the apple, melon and pineapple flavors of the Chardonnay, a touch of mango and ginger from the Viognier and a subtle hint of oak.
FOOD STYLE
Great by itself or to accompany all fish and white meat dishes. Will work well with oriental food.
CLICK HERE
to download the Chardonnay technical sheet pdf
85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier
IGP PAYS D’OC
Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon
30% was vinified in French & American barrels. The remainder, including the Viognier was unoaked.
3 Years
13%
3.7 g/L
3.5
3 g/L
Mediterranean
150m
Clay and limestone terraces
15 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low-60hl/ha
Mechanical harvesting at night to maintain freshness

SAUVIGNON BLANC

SAUVIGNON BLANC
Les Deux Mondes – The Two Worlds
Sauvignon Blanc is a relative newcomer to our region and it took time for us to locate precisely the best soils and altitudes in which to grow it. The ‘two worlds’ refers to the combination of vibrant New World character and Old World subtlety that we wanted to create in this dry and freshly fruity example of the Sauvignon grape. Like all of our wines, it owes its character to our careful blending of grapes grown in different soils and at different altitudes.
TASTING NOTES
A very interesting wine with a refreshingly grassy green fig, papaya and lychee notes combined with characteristic Sauvignon capsicum, tomato and cassis leaf and gooseberry.
FOOD STYLE
Great by itself or to accompany all fish and white meat dishes. Will work especially well with seafood. Delicious by itself.
CLICK HERE
to download the Sauvignon Blanc technical sheet pdf
100% Sauvignon Blanc
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc-Roussillon
Nil
3 Years
12.5%
4.1 g/L
3.3
<2 g/L
Mediterranean
150m
Clay and limestone terraces
15 Years
4000 Vines/ha
LOW – 80HL/HA
Mechanical Harvesting at night to maintain freshness

GSM

GSM RED BLEND
Les Trois Jammeurs – The Three Jamming Musicians
The trio of grapes used to make this wine are like three jazzmen – jammeurs­ – improvising together in perfect harmony. The Grenache brings bright, juicy, peppery flavours – the piano – while the dark-berry, spicy Syrah – the drummer –  offers the structure and the beat, and the perfumed Mourvedre, the bass. The blend was unusual in the region before we produced it, but it will be familiar to many from its use in the Rhône and Australia. We love those wines but think ours has a character of its own.
We love jazz, but if that kind of music isn’t your thing, imagine members of a sports team who play off their individual strengths to win games.
TASTING NOTES
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre are brilliantly compatible – as many people will have discovered in great examples from the Rhone Valley.  The blend gives spicy blackberryish flavours, dark plum, black cherry dark fruit and a hint of pepper. There is also a distinctive mineral, perfumed note that comes from the Mourvedre. The different soils and altitudes contribute hugely too.
FOOD STYLE
Perfect with all full-flavoured meat dishes, and ideal with traditional French cuisine as well as more international dishes whose flavours include a note of spice.
CLICK HERE
to download the GSM Red Blend technical sheet pdf
60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre
IGP PAYS D’OC
Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon
Nil
3 Years
13.5%
3.25 g/L
3.7
5 g/L
Mediterranean
150m
Clay and limestone terraces for the Syrah, clay and limestone slopes for the Mourvedre and hillside and deep clay and limestone terraces for the Grenache.
25 Years
4000 Vines/ha
LOW – 80hl/ha
Mechanical Harvesting at night to maintain freshness

ROSÉ

ROSÉ
Le Diamont – The Diamond
Provence makes delicious rosé, but so – now – does our region of Languedoc. Indeed one of the world’s priciest is produced not that far away, and we like to think of this pioneering, pale, dry rosé as the diamond in our collection. We weren’t looking to copy Provence, but we did want to hit some of the same notes with  he Grenache grape – the variety associated with that region. Just like the Deux Aristos, we added some of our delicious Syrah to the blend that gives it a brambley note to go with the strawberry and pepper of the Grenache.
TASTING NOTES
Pale pink. Intense aromas of raspberry, strawberry and redcurrant with a hint of pepper. Rich palette with refreshing bright red fruit, brambley and peppery character. Combines dry flavors – it has almost no residual sugar – with lovely fruit-sweetness.
FOOD STYLE
To be drunk by itself, or with a wide range of dishes, including ones prepared with oriental spices.
CLICK HERE
to download the Rosé technical sheet pdf
85% Grenache, 15% Shiraz
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc-Roussillon
Nil
Enjoy now
12.5%
4.42 g/L
3.16
1.9 g/L

Mediterranean

150M

Clay & limestone terraces

15 Years

4000 vines/ha

Low – 80hl/ha

Mechanical harvesting at night to maintain freshness

PINOT NOIR

PINOT NOIR
Le Soliste Têtu – The Obstinate Soloist
Pinot Noir usually hates being blended, so it’s famously a soloist. It’s also stubborn – têtu –, about where it will reveal its unique cherry-and-raspberry flavours. Before us, no one thought of planting it in our ancient, high altitude vineyards in Southern France. Robert Joseph lived and worked for several years in Burgundy and knows how tricky it can be – and how rewarding to get right. When we began working on le Grand Noir 15 years ago, very few people imagined it was possible to make fine Pinot Noir in Languedoc – but that was also true for the pioneers of California, Oregon, New Zealand and Chile, all of whom are now making world class wines. The secret for us lay in finding a set of vineyards with varying soil, altitudes and microclimates. So, instead of finding one spot in which our soloist could play at her best, we found several – like a musician might enjoy playing in a set of different venues. We’re not trying to copy Burgundy, but we are using Burgundian winemaking techniques to make a world class Pinot Noir we are really proud of.
TASTING NOTES
A very distinctive and immediately enjoyable Pinot Noir, this is a very juicy, raspberryish, cherryish wine with hints of strawberry and oak and a refreshing note of pepper.
FOOD STYLE
Great by itself or to accompany a wide range of meat dishes, but could also be enjoyed with fish such as tuna or salmon.
Serving note: Would be good slightly chilled, especially in warm weather.
CLICK HERE
to download the Pinot Noir technical sheet pdf
100% Pinot Noir
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc-Roussillon
A small proportion, 10%, is matured in oak.
3 Years
12.5%
2.9 g/L
3.68
3 g/L
Mediterranean
A wide range of altitudes, from 200 – 400m
Clay and limestone terraces
10 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low – 80hl/ha
Mechanical Harvesting at night to maintain freshness

MOSCATO

MOSCATO
La Belle Italienne – The Beautiful Italian
The French way of describing a beautiful – belle – Italian woman reflects how we have subtly adapted the traditional light, grapey style of wine-making associated with this grape to our ancient corner of Southern France. Muscat grapes have been grown in our region for millennia, but we were among the first to think of using them to make a light, fresh and gloriously, gulpably, grapey, lower-alcohol wine like this.
TASTING NOTES
Wonderful floral aromas and juicy peach and melon flavors with just the right amount of sweetness.
FOOD STYLE
Pairs well with salads, grilled chicken or Asian dishes. Delicious on its own.
CLICK HERE
to download the Moscato technical sheet pdf
100% Muscat
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc Roussillon
Nil
3 Years
11.5%
3.75 g/L
3.36
59 g/L
Mediterranean
50m
Gravel terraces
15 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low – 60hl/ha
Mechanical Harvesting at night to maintain freshness

MERLOT

MERLOT
L’Oiseau à Deux Nids – the Bird with Two Nests
We were among the first in our ancient region of Southern France to make this style of Merlot – or its sibling, Les Deux Aristos, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Merlot is said to take its name from merle – blackbird. It is very picky about the soil – or as we might say ‘nest’ – nid – where it performs best. For this delicious, plummy cherryish wine, we brought together grapes from two vineyards with very different soils and altitudes. Hugh Ryman, who lives in Bordeaux and has a chateau in Bergerac loves Merlot and appreciates its challeges.
TASTING NOTES
A distinctive modern Merlot with the typical mulberryish and plummy quality of this variety, coupled with a bright cherry/strawberry note that adds freshness and complexity.
FOOD STYLE
Perfect with all red and white meat dishes, but equally delicious to drink on its own.
CLICK HERE
to download the Merlot technical sheet pdf
100% Merlot
IGP PAYS D’OC
Languedoc-Roussillon
Aged in French oak for 6 months.
3 Years
13%
3.3 g/L
3.6
4 g/L
Mediterranean with Oceanic influences
90-120m
Alluvial slopes
20 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low – 80hl/ha
Mechanical Harvesting at night to maintain freshness

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Les Deux Aristos – The two Aristocrats
Like its white sibling, Le Piano et le Saxo Ténor, Chardonnay-Viognier, this is a blend of two noble – aristos – grapes that work in perfect harmony. The blackcurrant and bell pepper flavours of the Cabernet Sauvignon, marry perfectly with the spicy, blackberryish Syrah. When we pioneered the style – selecting grapes from some very special vineyards in our corner of Southern France – our neighbours said we were crazy. But a black sheep never follows the herd.
TASTING NOTES
The blend of rich blackcurranty Cabernet and brambley, gently peppery Syrah makes this a very distinctive wine. The vanilla character of the oak is present but subtle, and the tannins are softer than in many Cabernets. A very luxurious drink; silky and satisfying.
FOOD STYLE
Good with a range of red meat dishes, but its soft fruity character makes this an attractive wine to drink by itself.
CLICK HERE
to download the Cabernet Sauvignon technical sheet pdf
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Shiraz
IGP PAYS D’OC
Vineyards around Puichéric, Jouarres-Homps and the hilly areas of Caunes-Trausse, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon
6 months aged in French & American oak.
3 Years
13.5%
3.3 g/L
3.71
5 g/L
Mediterranean
100-400m
Alluvial slopes for the Cabernet, clay and limestone terraces for the Syrah
20 Years
4000 Vines/ha
Low – 70hl/ha
Mechanical Harvesting at night to maintain freshness
Route de Pépieux RD52/115
11160 RIEUX-MINERVOIS
FRANCE
OUR STORY
OUR WINES
CONTACT
FAQ
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
X
LINKEDIN
VIVINO
TIKTOK
2023 © Copyright - Le Grand Noir Wines All Rights Reserved