# Domaine Giraud Lirac Vieilles Vignes (2024)

- **Producer:** Domaine Giraud
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 15.0%
- **Average price:** €20
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, apple, lavender, violet, black pepper, liquorice

## About this wine

Domaine Giraud was founded in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1974 by Pierre and Mireille Giraud, starting with just four hectares of rented land. Today, the estate is managed by their children, Marie and François Giraud, who have earned a reputation for crafting remarkably elegant, terroir-driven Southern Rhône wines. This Lirac cuvée has a unique origin story: it was originally produced as a Côtes-du-Rhône named 'Les Sables d'Arène' because it was a single-variety Grenache. Since Lirac AOC rules forbid mono-varietal red wines, the family could not use the prestigious appellation. In 2018, an elderly neighbor, deeply impressed by François's meticulous organic farming, leased his old-vine Syrah and Mourvèdre plots to the Girauds. This allowed them to create a classic GSM blend and officially elevate the wine to Lirac status.

## Interesting facts

- The wine was elevated to Lirac AOC after a neighbor leased his old-vine Syrah and Mourvèdre to the estate, impressed by their organic farming.
- The Grenache component comes from exceptionally old vines planted around 1950, averaging 60 years of age.
- This cuvée is aged entirely in concrete tanks with zero oak contact to preserve its bright, floral, and fruit-forward character.

## Food pairing

This medium-to-full-bodied Lirac pairs beautifully with rich, savory dishes. The wine's structured tannins and sappy acidity cut through the fat of grilled lamb and beef, while its vibrant red fruit and garrigue herbal notes complement roasted game and earthy mushroom or eggplant dishes.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Domaine Giraud emphasizes purity of fruit and minimal intervention. Grapes are harvested entirely by hand, followed by strict sorting on tables before entering the cellar. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using only indigenous yeasts. To preserve the bright floral aromas, fresh red fruit character, and distinct sandy soil minerality, both fermentation and aging take place entirely in concrete tanks. The wine is completely unoaked, avoiding any wood influence to maintain its elegant texture and fine-grained tannins. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered.