2018 Clos des Fées Vieilles Vignes, Côtes du Roussillon Villages
New release
Sommelier-turned-winemaker Hervé Bizeul has earned kudos for his career change, from both sommeliers and vignerons alike. He makes this superb cuvée from a parcel of very old vines (50-100 years) he bought in a forgotten corner of the Roussillon in the late 1990s. The vineyard had been abandoned, but over the past two decades has been brought back to life. The wine is a field blend of Grenache and local curiosity Lladoner Pelut, along with Carignan and Syrah grown on a limestone slope. This 2018 is utterly delicious, with gorgeous fruit sweetness and perfectly balanced freshness. The tannins are smooth and effortlessly entwined with the dried herb and lightly spiced notes of the palate. It is both rich and bursting with energy.