Mas Coutelou La Vigne Haut 2018 Vin de France

Rightly or wrongly, I tend to compare every Syrah that comes my way to the benchmark wines of the northern Rhône. And, whilst undeniably Languedoc in origin and style, this one compares very favourably, with its elegant red fruit and savoury/saline aromas and flavours, along with hints of roasted meat, polished leather and a veritable pot pourri of aromatic herbs and spices. In time, notes of violet and damp earth begin to emerge, making for an alluring, somewhat earthy yet nonetheless elegant wine. There's plenty of colour - and a healthy dose of grippy, slightly rustic tannin to match - but this only serves to heighten the sheer vibrancy and youthful vigour of this wine. As ever with Jeff Coutelou's wines (and despite there being no added sulphur) I suspect this can only get better with a few years' ageing. Then again, this is yet another of his wines that are almost too good not to drink young. Drink now or age for another 5 years or more - the choice is yours!