Mas Coutelou Mourvèdre 2020

Mas Coutelou is a small natural wine estate at Puimisson in the Languedoc, near Béziers, run by Jeff Coutelou, who certified his vineyards organic in 1987. This is a single variety Mourvèdre, a warm climate grape known in Spain as Monastrell that needs heat and a long season to ripen its firm tannins fully, which the Languedoc sun provides. Farming is organic and the winemaking natural, with the fruit fermented and aged twelve months in concrete tanks that let the wine settle without adding oak flavour, keeping the focus on the fruit and the variety's savoury, gamey character. At 14.5% alcohol it is full and warming. It pours a deep, almost opaque purple. The nose shows red and black fruit with leather, black pepper, a curried spice note and wild garrigue herbs. The palate is full and textured, the tannins ripe and the finish long and savoury. As a natural wine with minimal handling it rewards a short decant to open up. Serve at 17 degrees. It suits roast and grilled red meats and game.