Patrick Bouju Môl 2021

Môl is a Vin de France red from Patrick Bouju and Justine Loiseau, the natural-wine growers behind Domaine la Bohème in the Auvergne. The name means red wine in Romani, and the cuvée is a négoce field blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Gamay, Grenache and small amounts of Muscat of Alexandria and Sauvignon Blanc, brought together across vintages of difficult weather. The Auvergne is a cool, high inland region of volcanic and granite soils, and the southern-sourced fruit adds ripeness and lift on top of that fresh base. The approach is hands-off. Each variety is fermented separately and spontaneously with native yeasts, with no temperature control, and the wine is raised in neutral fibreglass and steel tanks with no oak and minimal sulphur. That keeps the wine bright, transparent and fruit-driven, with the small white-grape addition lending an extra aromatic perfume. It pours a vivid, youthful red. The nose is lively and floral, with red cherry, raspberry and plum, dried rose and a peppery, white-floral lift from the Muscat and Sauvignon. The palate is light, juicy and low in tannin, with fresh acidity and a clean, fruit-led finish. Serve slightly cool at 13 to 15 degrees, with no need to decant.