Notify me
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Il Fait Soif”
Maxime-François LaurentIl 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: | 2023 |
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
2019 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 to be enjoyed this winter.
2022 Gigondas
France | Southern Rhône
Durban does here what they do best, keeping the focus and precision of the terroir as well as loads of fruit and pleasure.
NV Clairette de Die Brut
France | Southern Rhône
A dry sparkler made exclusively from Clairette
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, concentrated, and refreshingly saline, this is like great Cornas with Mediterranean influences.
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “La Rubiconde”
France | Southern Rhône
The complexity and depth of this wine is driven by the 60-80 year old Grenache vines reaching deep down into the clay and limestone soils.
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Télégramme”
France | Southern Rhône
This unfiltered bottling from the 2021 vintage is one of the best editions to date.
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
France | Southern Rhône
Leydiers at Domaine de Durban are particularly proud of their Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, a vin doux naturel, as they are among the last to craft it in the traditional style.
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” HALF BOTTLE
France | Southern Rhône
It’s a gem, and you won’t be disappointed.
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
November Adventures Club ~ Hailing from a parcel of co-planted vines adjacent to the family home, these varieties were planted together with the express purpose of making the house rouge, the everyday vibrant and juicy drink you’d bring to the table in a jug and drink out of a cup.
2022 Beaumes-de-Venise Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
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.
About The Producer
Maxime François Laurent
More from Southern Rhône or France
2022 Vin de France Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Blanc
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse “Le Pigeoulet” Blanc
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2020 Gigondas “Racines” MAGNUM
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Piedlong”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Blanc
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse “Le Pigeoulet” Blanc
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2020 Gigondas “Racines” MAGNUM
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Piedlong”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.