Tasted with Pauline Passot in Chiroubles, 28 February 2023.
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre
Pauline Passot
409 Route de la Grosse Pierre
69115 Chiroubles
Tel: +33 4 74 69 12 17
www.domainedelagrossepierre.fr/
More reports with Domaine Pauline Passot
Pauline on 2022:
“For 2022 I’m happy. It’s another year with a lot of sun and a year that was very dry so we managed only around 35 hl/ha – it could have been worse without the small amount of rain that we got in August. I’m planning a small bottling of the Beaujolais and a first bottling of the Chiroubles Grosse Pierre – the rest are more for June-July.”
Pauline on 2021:
“2021 is a small volume for us – about half a harvest. Not too much frost in Chiroubles – a little in Au Cras but it was more the mildew that was difficult to control in 2021. I destemmed a lot more in 21 – I’m happy to keep the stems in warmer vintages – but when the ripeness is a bit lower… I destemmed 30-50%. So less volume than in 2022 and most is already sold.”
The wines…
Lovely wines here – perhaps some mild pyrazine complexity in the Grosse Pierre but the other two were clean and exciting – yum!
2021 Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre
The major cuvée here, 3.5 ha of vines around the domaine – the bottom of the hills of Chiroubles – rose granite but very decomposed. All cement elevage for this
Hmm – that’s nicely perfumed – there’s a hint of pyrazine here which adds a nice extra complexity – the wine’s been open a couple of days – so perhaps the pyrazine is stronger when first opened. Supple – broad, cool, lovely complexity.
2021 Chiroubles Au Cras
At 460 m – another lieu-dit. 1.2 hectares from the high part of Chiroubles over 150m higher than the Grosse Pierre vines but directly south-facing. Much closer to the mother rock here – meagre solis.
That’s also beautifully perfumed – less forward but with finer precision. Extra direct and mineral, more structure but so juicy finishing too – I’d say more strict but delicious finishing.
2021 Morgon Douby
0.8 ha – pink-granite – it’s not far from Fleurie but a little blue-stone also in the mix here.
The red berry of this nose is more vibrant – but also more compact. Also a little strict and structural but showcasing much more width. Properly intense and slowly fading in this finish. It’s the wine I wait a little for – give it 18 months to 2 years but you will be happy.