From: Languedoc, France
Blend: 35% Carignan / 35% Grenache / 30% Syrah
Taste: Aromas of ripe raspberry, blackcurrant, and cassis are complemented by windswept garrigue aromas prized by southern French wine lovers. A hint of coffee and tobacco unfold as the wine opens, and peppery aromas highlight and carry onto the palate. This charming Southern French red has a ton of freshness— a distinct thread of stony minerality and lip-smacking acidity that keeps things rich but light; a perfect wine for grilling!
Pairing: Roasted or grilled meats and vegetables, asparagus, zucchini, bell peppers, and tomato-based dishes, including but not limited to spaghetti bolognese, ratatouille, and pizza. Also, Mediterranean-inspired meals (check out the recipe below) fare excellently alongside this wine and weeknight favorites like takeout tacos, burgers, and gyros.
Spiced Lamb Meatballs With Yogurt and Herbs
By David Tanis
About. Although it also produces white and rosé wines, Faugères is a French appellation located in Languedoc-Roussillon (southern France) that is mostly known for their ripe and fruity red wines based on Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, with the occasional addition of Cinsault and Lladoner Pelut.
These ruby red wines typically display primary aromas of ripe red and black fruits that are usually complemented by nuances of coffee, underbrush (called garrigue), or pepper. With age, the wines may develop more robust expressions of leather or tobacco. Because of their well-structured tannins, red Faugères wines are an excellent match to red meat, game, or stews.
The secret to the Faugeres wines lies in the steep hills surrounding the sleepy village of Faugeres, high up above Beziers. The hillsides are predominantly made from schist, which provides a unique soil drainage and moisture retention.
However, I also think that another reason why the Faugeres wines are so good is that the wine appellation is very small, with only 35 or so wine producers. With such a small number of vineyards, it is very difficult to make bad wine as it will taint the reputation of the others.
Winemaking Notes: The grapes are manually harvested at optimal maturity. The Carignan is vinified with whole cluster carbonic maceration in order to extract intense aromas and flavors. The Syrah and Grenache are vinified traditionally with destemming and 20-30 days of vatting. The wines age in concrete tanks for 12 months before blending and bottling at the château.
Farming Notes: Château des Adouzes is certified HVE 3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3), which is the highest level of France's Environmental Value certification. It is a result of their efforts towards virtuous agriculture: planting 2,000 trees to preserve biodiversity, planting vineyard ground cover, pheromone dispensers, manual weeding, non-irrigated vines, etc. This certification complements their existing carbon neutral approach: to limit their impact on the planet, the Coste family has reduced their CO2 emissions to a minimum. They offset the rest by financing ecological initiatives.
