Domaine Anne Gros et Jean-Paul Tollot

Anecdotes from the Estate: Highly independent, we humbly respect the forces of nature and do not align ourselves with any particular movement. With open minds, we are gradually deepening our understanding of the soils, grape varieties, wind, sun, and rain. In short, understanding the water cycle, wind direction, and the power of light helps us find the path for each wine, which is uniquely defined by its soils and vintage. The Estate's Story: We each have 30 years of experience with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Unable to work together in Burgundy, we decided to venture into the realm of Carignan and Cinsault. Syrah, Grenache, and Marselan also play a part, resulting in eight wines from different vineyard plots. Our vision is simple: purity of expression. Our work is rigorous. We are supported by Thibaut, a young man from Languedoc who brings his local knowledge, and by our son Paul, who has decided to join us and is slowly but surely settling in. The pride of the estate: In 2006, Anne Gros, the sixth generation of a winemaking family in Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, and Jean-Paul Tollot, the fifth generation of a winemaking family in Chorey-lès-Beaune, discovered a small, secluded spot in the far northeast of the Minervois region: Cazelles. It was love at first sight for its unique clay-limestone soils (the Agel limestone, the kind that sings beneath our feet), its marl, and its Assignan sandstone. Its location at 220 meters altitude, at the gateway to the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park, amidst magnificent and protected landscapes, along with the old Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah, and Grenache vines, sealed the deal for them to undertake a meticulous winemaking project there. The project will therefore materialize with the acquisition of 15 hectares and the construction of a winery designed with energy efficiency and environmental considerations in mind. They will produce their first vintage in 2008. Since then, a few additional plots have been acquired with the aim of working the vineyards in the Burgundian style. Some new grape varieties are even beginning to be planted there...