Domaine Richaud Cairanne Rouge 2021

50-80 year old vines of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah and Counoise in sunny but relatively cool vineyards on hard limestone clay soils. A sumptuous wine full of life, partly vinified and fully aged in old wooden barrels. A swirling mass of ripe fruit in the glass, from fresh red berries and cherries to dark cassis and prunes. At the same time intensely savory and spicy. Firm acids and light CO2 sting fully support the heavy body (15%), making the wine treacherously easy to drink. Wow.

Marcel Richaud is a veteran of the organic and natural wine movement and is primarily responsible for Cairanne’s reputation as one of the better ‘villages’ in the Côtes du Rhône. He belongs to the early wave of winemakers who, following Marcel Lapierre and colleagues, went in search of a purer and more digestible style than had become the norm in their respective appellations.

All wines are bottled without clarification and unfiltered, usually with a pinch of added sulphite. The result is wines that amaze with their aromatic expressiveness, power and digestibility. Yes, the alcohol nowadays ticks the 15%, but it is so well packed in pure matter and carried by beautiful acids that you hardly notice it (dangerous!).