The 6.3-ounce plastic cylinders stand about eight inches tall, have a diameter of only a little more than an inch and are topped with a screw cap. You could stuff a lot of those into a picnic basket or backpack. But it's not just the convenience and quantity that impresses - so does the quality.
Le Grand Verre's entire line consists of French wine from various wine regions, like Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Provence. The company says they curate the wines every step of the way to your glass, partnering with mostly female-led boutique estates which are organic and sustainable.
The tasting samples provided to me were made up of two reds, two rosés and a white wine.
Le Grand Verre Domaine Caylus Rosé 2020
This pink wine hails from the Pays d'Herault region of southern France, a part of the larger Languedoc-Roussillon region. LGV partnered with Inès Andrieu of Domaine de Caylus for this organic blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache. Andrieu took over the property from her grandfather, Henri Andrieu who was in charge since buying the property in 1963. The Domaine Caylus rosé carries alcohol at 12.5% abv and a price tag of $25 for a 4-pack.
The nose of this pale pink wine is loaded with strawberry and tropical notes. The mouthfeel is full and the palate is earthy. Flavors of apple, pineapple and ripe red cherry are a delight. The acidity is somewhat tame, but the sip is juicy and the finish is very long.
Le Grand Verre Château Val D’Arenc Rosé 2020
Bandol is generally considered to be the top Provence region for rosé, where the pinks are spicier, more structured and more flavorful than typical rosés thanks to the use of the Mourvédre grape. This one is a critic's darling, an organic-certified Provencal blend of 80% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache and 10% Cinsault.
The wine was produced by young, innovative winemaker Gérald Damidot, and under his leadership the estate converted to organic farming practices in 2015, bringing about an enhanced quality of the wine. Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and the retail is $30 for a 4-pack.
This wine is a little richer in color than a Provençal rosé, approaching the red side of pink. The nose brings some watermelon into play with the berries and the citrus notes. The palate shows a healthy streak of grapefruit through the melon. Acidity is nice, and the finish is long. This is a great rosé to pair with seafood or salads, or both.
Le Grand Verre Domaine Nadal Hainaut Red 2019
Here is a gorgeous wine for the coming cooler weather this fall, but it takes a chill well, too - for those of us still stuck in summer. This somewhat rustic Cabernet Sauvignon is made with organic grapes from the Domaine Nadal Hainaut estate in the Côtes Catalanes region of the Pays d'Oc IGP, which covers most of the Languedoc-Roussillon area. The Château was built in 1826 and has belonged to the Nadal family since 1900. Martine and Jean-Marie are currently turning over the winemaking duties to their three daughters. This red wine's alcohol level is 13.5% abv and a 4-pack will set you back $25.
The nose and palate are both dominated by black and blue berries. Anise aromas make an appearance as well. The tannins are medium firm, while the acidity is quite refreshing.
Le Grand Verre Château Peyredon Red 2019
This LGV selection comes from the Haut-Médoc Crus Bourgeois. Laurence Dupuch of Château Peyredon Lagravette works with her husband Stephane Dupuch to produce this wine. The fruit was picked from vines over 100 years old. The blend was envisioned by world-famous oenologist Hubert de Bouard - winemaker and owner of Château Angelus, one of the four most prestigious Saint-Émilion estates.
This classic Bordeaux is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, with grapes that are sustainably farmed. Alcohol is a restrained 13% abv and an LGV 4-pack of the canisters costs $30.
On the nose are rich blackberry, cedar, vanilla and bacon grease aromas. The palate shows elegant dark fruit, very firm tannins and a playful acidity. This is a wine that wants a steak next to it.
Domaine Prataviera Sauvignon Blanc 2020
The Côtes de Gascogne region occupies France's far southwestern corner and is known primarily for the white wines produced there. The grapes which are allowed in the region read like a list of grapes you never heard of: Abouriou, Duras and Portugias bleu among the reds, Len de l'El, Ugni Blanc and both Mansengs - Petit and Gros - among the whites. Of course, there are also some grapes you have heard of - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
The grapes at Domaine Prataviera have been grown under the female hand since 1960 - that's when Elisabeth Prataviera's mom took over from her father. The Prataviera is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, has alcohol sitting low at 11% abv and sells for $20 in the 4-pack.
This SauvBlanc is lightly tinted and offers up a lovely nose of grapefruit and grass. The citrus/mineral element outweighs the herbal, so it does not come off like a fully New World wine. On the palate, the grapefruit really shines, with a full mouthfeel, an apricot note and a pretty good level of acidity. I don’t drink a lot of Sauvignon Blanc, but when I do, it's usually French, and this wine is a perfect example of why.
In a Zoom meeting to kick off the product, a couple of LGV bigwigs talked with a collection of wine writers. Nicolas Deffrennes (LGV Founder) spoke about how he started LGV, with an eye towards presenting fine French wines in a format that made it easy for people to sample. He also said that part of his innovation was to focus on female-owned and organic, sustainable wines. He estimated that within the next couple of years, the plastic containers will be made from organic, plant-based plastic.
Deffrennes then threw it to Régis Fanget (Brand and Artistic Director) who talked about the inspiration for the pretty little bottles - cosmetics. He said they wanted to present the wine in a physical manner that resembled the way perfume is sold.
Pauline Nadal (one of the daughters behind Le Grand Verre Domaine Nadal Hainaut Red 2019, a beautiful wine from Languedoc-Roussillon) spoke about all the animals they have on the property - sheep, swans, bees - and the importance of the animals being happy in the absence of chemicals, and the happiness of the vines themselves. They don't irrigate the vines - she says her grandfather maintained that watering the vines made them "lazy."
