Domaine of the Bee Les Genoux

Les Genoux is a rare, single-vineyard wine, which is only produced in the best years. As such, small allocations are common for this wine. The source of the fruit is the wonderful 100+ year-old vines in their ancient Coume de Roy vineyard. All the grapes are picked by hand, and any selection needed to eliminate less than perfect grapes is done in the vineyard. whole bunches are used, crushed under-foot, and plunged gently by hand, twice or three times a day, during the fermentation.

At pressing, the wine was drained into a 500 litre American oak barrel, and the pressings blended with other Grenache pressings in another 225L barrel. After 15 months of ageing, the wine from the barrels is bottled to make the Les Genoux blend.

In appearance the wine is less intensely coloured than the regular cuveé, as it contains approximately ten to fifteen percent white and pink grapes. The blend includes Grenache Noir, Carignan, Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc. It is bold and ripe in style, but still only clocks in at just over Thirteen and a half percent.

An incredibly enticing wine, with the whole-bunch component adding freshness and a peppery bite to a core of extremely expressive wild strawberry and sweet liquorice. Defined by a punchy initial palate with plenty of red fruits like strawberries and red fruit pastilles. There are gentle oak-derived vanillas, and subtle barrel seasoning accompanied by a rich, ripe, yet elegant Grenache palate picking up warming red fruit theme and adding notes of orange peel, rosemary and fennel. A rich, decadent style but with a bright and persistent finish, and finely grained tannins.

Excellent on its own, however, it is best appreciated with a good friend. Les Genoux is also a wonderful match for charcuterie. The perfumed, elegant style makes it extremely versatile.