Mas Coutelou Couleurs Réunies 2018 Vin de France

A new cuvée - a field blend of numerous grape varieties of all colours from the "Flower Power" vineyard, which includes Cinsault, Aramon Noir, Aramon Gris, Oeillade Noire, Muscaté, Clairette(s) Blanche, Grise and Musquée, together with Carignan and Castets from the "Peilhan" vineyard. The colour is quite a deep, semi-opaque cherry red, with a very narrow rim. The nose is full of interest - aromas of bramble, red cherry, redcurrant and stewed rhubarb, mingle with notes of tobacco, new leather, damp earth and all manner of herby/spicy nuances. The palate is equally complex and multi-dimensional, offering lashings of juicy, sweet-sour fruit, a hint of licorice and myriad secondary flavours, all wrapped around a core of gently rustic tannins and mouth-watering cherry kernel and citrus acidity. The finish is really quite contrary - at the same time slightly dry, yet still wonderfully sweet and sour, like a sherbet dip (remember those?). It really does linger for an age, and keeps you coming back for another sip - because it is simply delicious! I can imagine this wine pairing well with all sorts of savoury dishes - pizza or pissalidière, spag-bol, mushroom risotto, for example - but we enjoyed our bottle with a simple steak frites.