Côtes du Rhône Villages

Produced largely from vineyards in Séguret (there's a small proportion from Beaumes de Venise), Brechet's 2019 Cotes du Rhone Villages is a co-fermentation of approximately two-thirds Grenache and one-third Syrah. The Syrah is picked first and held as chilled must, with the Grenache picked and added to the tank five to six days later. There's a lovely herbal overlay draped over the wine's other notes of black cherries, plums, licorice and orange zest. Aged in a three-year-old foudre and some concrete, there's no real oak impact, just a lively interplay between the fruit and spicy-herbal elements in this medium to full-bodied yet silky-textured offering. For €12.50 at the caveau, it's another stellar buy, assuming you can buy direct.