M. Chapoutier Rouge Clair 2024

M. Chapoutier, a Rhone house with more than two hundred years of history, made Rouge Clair as a deliberately light, easy red for everyday drinking. It blends Garnacha and Syrah from southern France, farmed biodynamically, and is bottled under the Vin de France designation. The style is built around freshness, the grapes picked to keep acidity and to hold alcohol down to 12.5 percent. Garnacha brings juicy red fruit and a soft frame while Syrah adds a peppery, darker edge and a little structure. Vinification is short and reductive, just three months in stainless steel with no oak, which protects the primary fruit and the bright, crunchy character. The colour is light, vivid ruby. The nose is fresh and lifted, with red berries, cherry, red currant and a herbal, peppery note. The palate is light bodied, the acidity juicy, the tannin soft, finishing clean and fruity. This is a chillable, versatile red. Serve cool at 13 to 14 degrees. It works as a flexible partner across light meats, charcuterie and vegetable dishes.