IGP Côtes Catalanes “Les Myrs” (Red) 2021

"These wines are like nothing I have ever tasted. I want to say Pinot-like, but that’s not honest or respectful to these quiet, silk-and-ruby, dawn-light-shaft, introvert but wholly Roussillon wines. This tastes of wild strawberries and forest mushrooms, caraway and fennel seeds. There is a daub of farmyard, but only enough to bring tang and animal warmth. White pepper woven into the delicate sweetness of the fruit. Not attention-seeking, but if you don’t give this wine your whole attention, you’ve lost something priceless. This is a Carignan in a million!" 18 points. Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com, July 2021.

Winemaker: Sébastien Danjou, ‘Carignan is not brutal – only if you do it in a brutal way. Carignan needs infusion, not pigeage or punchdown, and very very light treatment. Over its evolution it starts out much lighter in character, but after six or seven years starts to become ‘stronger, more concentrated – 2012 was very delicate, but if you open it now, it tastes much stronger, like a typical Roussillon wine’.

Match it with: Moroccan cuisine and Lebanese food—dishes with spiced with baharat or ras al hanout.

Terroir: Black Schist. Plot called "Les Myrs" not far from La Truffière.

Ages of the vines: The Les Myrs vines are over 95 years old.

Vinification: Grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed // natural fermentation // aged for 20 months in old oak barrels // no fining // no filtration // no acidification // no chaptalisation