Domaine de la Grange des Pères

Having worked at Coche-Dury, with Gérard Chave in Hermitage, and Eloi Dürrbach at Domaine Trévallon in Provence, Laurent Vaillé had the pedigree to head out on his own. He sourced cuttings from the latter two producers, and in 1989 planted 9 hectares of red grapes, with just a single hectare of white grapes, on a hillside just down the road from Mas du Daumas Gassac. Here, he worked the vineyards according to organic and biodynamic principles, without being certified, and made a single red from Syrah and Mourvèdre, with smaller proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Counoise, and a single white from Roussanne, Marsanne and Chardonnay. Laurent passed away at the age of 57 in 2021. Already incredibly soughtafter, his final vintages have become like gold dust.