Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot : Les Fontanilles 2024

Characteristics and tasting tips for the "Les Fontanilles" 2024 cuvée from Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a deep, luminous red hue reminiscent of dark ruby, with violet highlights and a particularly brilliant rim.

Nose
Highly expressive, the bouquet opens with an explosion of red and black fruits such as cherry, raspberry, blackberry and blackcurrant. This fruity core is enriched by notes of sweet spices, black pepper and liquorice, heightened by a herbal touch of garrigue evoking thyme and rosemary, along with subtle floral and gamey nuances.

Palate
Full of vitality, the palate offers a texture that is both savoury and silky, supported by vibrant, exceptionally fine tannins. The balance between Mediterranean generosity and a thirst-quenching structural freshness is remarkable. The long finish lingers on spicy and fruity notes, lifted by a hint of salinity.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine pairs beautifully with barbecued meats, slow-cooked beef or full-flavoured game such as wild boar and venison. It will also enhance herb-rich Mediterranean cuisine, tagines with dried fruit, roast lamb or vegetarian dishes combining roasted vegetables, aubergines and Parmesan.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate Les Fontanilles 2024, serve it at a temperature between 16 and 17°C. In its youth, decanting for one to two hours is recommended to soften the tannins and release its full aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now, but will continue to improve in the cellar and should drink well until around 2040.

Burgundian elegance at the heart of the Minervois terroir

The estate

Born of a shared passion, Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot was officially founded in 2006 in the hamlet of Cazelles, in the Languedoc. Run by its two eponymous founders, Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot, the estate now covers 21 hectares. Hailing from prestigious Burgundy winemaking families, these two winegrowers chose to bring their expertise to the south of France. Their philosophy rests on respectful viticulture and precise winemaking, seeking to combine the sun-drenched ripeness of the region with the finesse and tension characteristic of their northern roots.

The vineyard

Located in the upper reaches of the Minervois appellation, at the foot of the Montagne Noire, the vineyard lies at altitudes of between 200 and 500 metres. The cuvée comes from a specific 3-hectare, north-west-facing plot of sandstone, marl and limestone. Surrounded by garrigue, the vines, aged between 22 and 50 years, benefit from a temperate microclimate that encourages slow ripening of the berries. The estate favours sustainable, carefully managed farming, with harvesting carried out exclusively by hand to preserve the integrity of the fruit.

Winemaking and ageing

Les Fontanilles 2024 is crafted following a Burgundian-inspired approach. After complete destemming, the berries undergo gentle extraction to preserve aromatic purity and the delicacy of the tannins. Ageing lasts 12 months, split equally: 50% in oak barrels to add structure and 50% in stainless steel tanks to retain the brightness and freshness of the fruit.

Grape varieties

Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault