Score: 94/100
This old vines red wine from the Languedoc wine region in Southern France, and more specifically the Faugères AOP appellation, is a blend of 80+-year-old Carignan (25%), with 25% Syrah and 25% Mourvèdre.
Grapes are carefully selected during the hand harvest of the low-yielding old vineyards.
After a long fermentation and maceration of skins (extended to over 30 days), 20% of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 14 months, using as little sulfites (SO2) as possible.
This Faugères is not only an organic wine, but the vineyards grapes are sourced from are run using the principle of biodynamics.
Tasting Notes
This Languedoc red wine comes in an immensely dark red color, with a huge color intensity, of a clean dark red with hints of purple hues.
The nose is no less intense, boasting with dark red berries, a distinctive blackcurrant and ripe blackberry smell, augmented by dark chocolate, black pepper, a touch of vanilla and many layers of sweet spices.
The palate is very dense and smooth, dry and featuring a solid acidity that underlines the freshness of the red berry flavors nicely.
Yet, a big burst of potent ripe berry flavors literally explodes in your mouth, liberating like fireworks loads of secondary notes of clove, nutmeg, and more importantly, a wealth of black pepper.
Overall
A dense and super-concentrated red wine, infused with old vines’ immense goodness and utter concentration on pour terroir can give to red wine. Dense, yet featuring very smooth tannins, precise and fresh ripe berry flavors, complexity and many layers of spices, toasted nuts and clear hints of floral violet characters. All the components of a soon-to-become outstanding red are packed into this young Languedoc wonder.
Personality, authenticity and terroir, precision of fruit with complexity from the built-in vinosity, all condensed into a very characterful wine.
Enjoy 🙂
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