L’Anglore Pierre Chaude 2021

Eric Pfifferling began as a beekeeper and grower in Tavel in the southern Rhône, and turned to making his own wines after storms damaged his hives and vines in 2002. He works the family domaine, L'Anglore, organically with minimal intervention. Pierre Chaude is built mainly on Grenache with a little of the white grape Clairette, grown on the warm galets and sandy soils around Tavel, where the Mediterranean climate and intense summer sun push the fruit to full ripeness, here reaching 14.5%. The wine spends ten months in barrel, a gentle ageing that softens the tannins and lets the oxygen exchange through the wood round out the texture without adding obvious oak flavour. Made in a natural style with little or no added sulphur, it has a slightly wild, savoury character alongside the fruit. Expect ripe plum, red berries and cherry with black pepper and the dried thyme and rosemary of the garrigue. The palate is generous and warming, with soft tannin and an earthy finish. Serve at 16C in a large glass, ideally with roast lamb or grilled red meat.