Domaine de La Garance A Clara Rouge 2017 Vin de France

A blend of Pinot Noir (grown 600m above sea level, in the hills above Bédarieux) and Grenache Noir (grown on the Garance estate in Caux). The aromas simply leap out of the glass - damp earth and wet stone, red and black cherry, raspberry, dried orange, new leather, fine eau de vie, a dash of white pepper and herbs of the garrigue - they're all in there, and so much more. It may not be designed to be complex, but it really does tick most (if not all) of my boxes. The promise of the nose is more than matched by the earthy, ripe, sweet-edged red and black fruit flavours on the palate, laced with garrigue herbs and just a hint of peppery spice, countered by melting tannins and crunchy, cherry kernel and soft-citrus acidity. All of which makes for a deliciously sweet-sour wine of real finesse, with a cool, minty finish. And by the way, no fungicides, pesticides or SO2 were used in the growing/making of this wine (not to mention, no oak). A realy delicious wine, which would bear comparison with many a decent cru Beaujolais.