Notify me
2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Il Fait Soif”
Maxime-François LaurentGrenache vines
Michèle Aubéry and Maxime-François Laurent
Il fait soif roughly translates to something like “It’s thirsty weather” or “It’s thirsty out there.” The term was coined in the 1950s by a French philosopher musing about how his countrymen viewed wine as a thirst-quenching beverage, of which one could always find a reasonable excuse to indulge.
Maxime-François Laurent has made quite the homage to that reasoning, a thirst-quenching breuvage of Grenache with a dollop of Syrah, vinified whole-cluster carbonic style, for maximum refreshment of all sorts. Maxime, whose mother, Michèle Aubéry, runs Domaine Gramenon, logically adopted the Gramenon philosophy for his own project. Having grown up around the domaine’s organically and biodynamically maintained vineyards, giving the fruit destined for his own bottlings the same attentive care was an obvious choice.
Maxime’s idyllic vineyards sit in the northern reaches of the southern Rhône Valley. There are gently rolling hills, beautifully forested where not planted in vines, and the views are sublime. This land produces fantastic Grenache, cooler and fresher than that of the flatlands, and the vinification style here fits the terroir like a glove.
Inspired by the wines of Marcel Lapierre, Maxime’s “Il Fait Soif” is made for immediate, easy-drinking pleasure. Serve it now, serve it cool. This may be our most quaffable Southern Rhône red.
—Chris Santini
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault |
Appellation: | Côtes du Rhône |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Maxime François Laurent |
Winemaker: | Michèle Aubèry-Laurent & Maxime François Laurent |
Vineyard: | 15 - 30 years, 4 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | Wine ages for 6 months in stainless steel cuves |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Vacqueyras “Un Sang Blanc”
France | Southern Rhône
A relatively rare beast, Serge’s blanc is a ripe, honey-infused cornucopia of fruit.
2021 Gigondas “Les Racines”
France | Southern Rhône
The palate is dense and ripe, yet wonderfully smooth and elegant. Racines seems to tap into the history of Les Pallières, the prestige and the high-toned elegance.
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Contre Couleur”
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, dynamic Grenache feels aptly highlighted by bright and fresh Clairette. Soft and rich, yet still defined.
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, concentrated, and refreshingly saline, this is like great Cornas with Mediterranean influences.
2021 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
France | Southern Rhône
This lovely Muscat is full of fresh honeysuckle and ripe citrus fruit. Have an ice cream maker? This wine makes the best sorbet you’ll ever taste!
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
France | Southern Rhône
The majesty of the La Crau vineyard is encapsulated in this wine. I can't think of a grander expression of Southern Rhone terroir.
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
France | Southern Rhône
This is about as quaffable as the region’s rouges get.
2022 Beaumes-de-Venise Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
April Club Gourmand ~ Grenache is joined by Syrah and a drop of Mourvèdre to create this delightful everyday red scented with herbes de Provence and ripe black cherry.
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Il Fait Soif”
France | Southern Rhône
This thirst-quenching, bright, and plummy red is enhanced with a little bit of chill and perfect for your favorite summer grillables.
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
France | Southern Rhône
This dark, autumnal rosé is a beacon of tradition in a sea of paler styles.
About The Producer
Maxime François Laurent
More from Southern Rhône or France
2021 Vacqueyras “Un Sang Blanc”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône
2021 Côtes-du-Rhône “La Sagesse”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
NV Clairette de Die “Tradition”
Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2021 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vacqueyras “Un Sang Blanc”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône
2021 Côtes-du-Rhône “La Sagesse”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
NV Clairette de Die “Tradition”
Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2021 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174