Maison Orcia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Bio 2020

Maison Orcia is a Rhône négociant house run by Jean-Philippe Manchès, working in the long French tradition of buying fruit and wine from growers and overseeing the winemaking. This Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah grown organically and aged for 18 months in concrete tanks. Châteauneuf sits on the warm southern Rhône, where the famous galets, rounded stones, store the day's heat and release it overnight to push the grapes to full ripeness, which is why the wine reaches 14.5 percent. Ageing in concrete rather than new oak keeps the focus on fruit and the savoury garrigue character of the region, softening the tannins through gentle micro-oxygenation without adding wood spice. The wine is deep and concentrated, with aromas of ripe black and red fruit, black pepper, liquorice and dried thyme and rosemary. The palate is elegant and full, flavoursome and structured, with warm spice and a long, herb-tinged finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant for an hour. It suits roasts, game and rich braises.