La Vieille Ferme Rouge 2023

La Vieille Ferme is made by the Perrin family, the growers behind Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, as their accessible everyday label. The fruit comes from the Luberon in the Southern Rhône, where a warm Mediterranean climate and stony soils ripen Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault reliably. Grenache leads with ripe red fruit and a supple body, Syrah adds colour and pepper, Carignan brings structure and Cinsault lifts the aromatics. The wine is raised in concrete rather than oak, an inert material that holds the wine at a steady temperature and lets it settle without adding wood flavour, so the result stays bright, fruity and direct. The 2023 is medium bodied and fresh, with raspberry and strawberry, a little plum, black pepper and a scrubby herbal note typical of the region. Tannins are soft and the finish is clean, which makes it an easy, versatile bottle for the table. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, lightly cool. It suits everyday cooking, from roast pork to grilled chicken and charcuterie.