2016
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Thézan-les-Béziers, 10km north of Béziers
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| Dry red - medium/full bodied. Aged in vat (no oak) |
100% Alicante Bouschet
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12.5%
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All manner of meat, cheese or vegetable dishes, pizza
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Still good, but best on day 1
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Now, or to 2026
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Alicante Bouschet was first cultivated more than 150 years ago, in order to add colour and tannin to lighter red wines. A cross between Petit Bouschet and Grenache, it is one of very few "teinturier" grape varieties, where both the skin and the juice are coloured (most red grapes have clear juice). Winemaker Marc Benin experimented with making a red table wine from Alicante for 3 years before hitting on the perfect recipe. The grapes are picked slightly over-ripe, in order to accentuate the fruit flavours, then macerated on the skins for just 4 days, before the juice is run off, in order to avoid extracting too much tannin. The result is a relatively deep-coloured red wine, with intense black berry and cherry aromas and background notes of damp earth, tobacco, eucalyptus and a hint of eau de vie. The palate shows plenty of concentration, yet is surprisingly rounded and full of red and black fruit flavours. A lick of spice, a sprinkling of garrigue herbs, earthy yet relatively soft tannins and just enough acidity to keep it fresh complete the package. A delightfully soft, approachable and very versatile wine. |
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