From: Rhone, France

Varietal: 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah

Tasting Notes: The fruit is deep and concentrated, but still balanced, with flavors of black plum, cherry, and boysenberry. There are also subtle notes of strawberry, spice, and roses. The wine has a mineral backbone and fresh acidity keeps this wine from being one-dimensional. 

Pairing: This wine will beautifully pair with everything from humble burgers (veggie, beyond, and meats all welcome) to elevated duck breast with sauce chasseur (sometimes called "hunter's sauce", it’s a simple or compound brown sauce used in French cuisine typically made using demi-glace or an Espagnole sauce [which is one of the five mother sauces] as a base, and often includes mushrooms and shallots). 

Domaine les Grands Bois is an independent winegrower located in Sainte Cécile les Vignes in the southern Rhone. The estate was founded in 1920 by Albert Farjon, an agricultural worker who was passionate about vines and wines. In 1935, he registered the brand, Les Grands Bois. His two sons, André and Robert, continued family tradition and ensured the longevity of the estate. In 1994, daughter and niece of winegrowers, Mireille Besnardeau, along with her husband Marc, took over the Les Grands Bois estate.

This wine in particular, is named after Marc and Mireille's eldest daughter, Philippine. Produced from Sainte Cécile les Vignes, this Côtes du Rhône Villages represents 16 hectares of the domaine. 15 days of fermentation at 18-20°C, punching and rack and return. This Côtes du Rhône Villages has its roots in the scrubland. Grenache and Syrah bloom under the Provencal sun and the beautiful Mistral winds, to result in an aromatic and ample wine.