Nicolas Carmarans Josette 2022

Nicolas Carmarans returned from Paris to his native Aveyron in Occitanie to make natural wine, and Josette is his most approachable red. It is made from Fer Servadou, a local variety grown on schist and granite soils in the cool upper Lot valley, where the wide day to night temperature range keeps the fruit fresh and the acidity high. The wine is made by carbonic maceration, where whole bunches ferment in a sealed vessel and each berry begins fermenting from within. This method extracts colour and vivid red fruit while keeping tannin low, giving the juicy, easy character the style is known for. Fermentation is with wild yeast and no additions, in keeping with the natural approach. The colour is bright and light. The nose is fresh and open, with strawberries and red cherries lifted by a floral note. The palate is light bodied and juicy, well balanced, with crunchy red fruit, a touch of rhubarb and a clean finish. At 11.5 percent it is a wine to drink young and slightly cool. Serve at around 13 degrees. It suits charcuterie, roast chicken and lighter fish.