Although Domaine du Grand Chemin was well known with wine lovers in the South of France, it was not represented in the UK and as soon as we tried their wines we knew we had to change that. The rest as they say is history and the wines of the Floutier family, who have been tending vines in the Languedoc for 300 years, have now become some of our bestselling lines with additions in the most recent taster case and a sell -out evening for their top wine at the Summer Portfolio Tasting in August.
The winery and its vineyards sit in the foothills of the Cevennes, in the beautiful triangle of Nimes-Montpellier -Ales. The vineyards on these sites have been tended by the Floutier family for five generations, with each generation passing on their winemaking heritage and knowledge to the next.
The vineyards enjoy stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and because of this enviable position they benefit from an excellent microclimate of warm, sunny days and cool, fresh nights. This microclimate ensures that grapes ripen and mature perfectly during the day while retaining freshness and good structure from the cooler nights.
The Floutier family grow a range of grape varieties from internationally recognised Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to local, indigenous varieties such as Grenache Gris and Marsellan. All of the varieties are treated with respect for their individual characters and traditional wine making techniques are accompanied by more modern styles of production to make great wines full of charm and style.
The Domaine du Grand Chemin Range
Cuvee Passion £7.99 per bottle / £47.94 per case of 6
This wine is a fresh and dry blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino which finds great expression on the Mediterranean slopes of the Grand Chemin vineyards. Cuvee Passion is surprisingly aromatic with notes of citrus and white flowers, followed by lemon and pineapple on the palate with hints of hay and fresh herbs. This is an ideal everyday wine which matches well with everything from risotto to pork pie.
Amour du Gris Rose £7.99 per bottle / £47.94 per case of 6
We might be falling out of the other side of rosé season but we still want to tell you about this fabulous wine. Produced with Grenache Gris it is a stunning colour of the palest pink with a delicate nose of alpine strawberry and cream soda. The palate is dry yet fruity, boasting cherry and redcurrant which is ideal paired with steamed salmon and seafood dishes.
Clos Roge £12.49 per bottle / £74.94 per case of 6
One of the great successes of 2015 has been the discovery of this wine. An elegant and intelligent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot, which marry together perfectly to provide delicious fruit from the Cabernet, spice and structure from the Syrah and dark tannin from the Petit Verdot. The structure is nothing short of genius and the balance of fruit, tannin and alcohol could not be better. If you only try one wine from this producer, you’d be wise to make it this one.
Cuvee Bea £22.99 per bottle / £68.97 per case of 3
I’m going to tell you about this wine for a couple of reasons, vanity and pride being two of them because we can’t actually sell you any! We poured this wine for our members and their guests at the Summer Portfolio Tasting and sold out within a week!
A blend of premium Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Marsellan this is the Domaine’s top wine from the best vineyards and the ripest fruit. It is not just powerful but complex and intricate with echoes of the Rhone valley and layers of classic Languedoc character. We will be placing another order for this wine before Christmas, so if you’d like to register your interest and pre order a case, please let us know and we can add your name to the ever growing list of Cuvee Bea enthusiasts.
A delivery charge of £12.75 applies per order to any UK mainland address.