Saint Etienne Les Albizzias 2024

Saint Etienne Les Albizzias comes from Domaine Saint Etienne, the southern Rhône estate set between Avignon and Nîmes that Michel Chapoutier has owned since 2017. It is an organic red built on the classic southern Rhône blend of Syrah, Garnacha Tinta, Mourvèdre and Cariñena, each grape grown to suit the varied soils the estate farms sustainably. The southern Rhône is warm and dry, with its stony, often galet covered soils storing daytime heat and ripening the Grenache to full, fleshy fruit, while the mistral keeps the vines healthy and the grapes clean. Syrah brings colour, pepper and structure, Mourvèdre a savoury, gamey depth, and Cariñena a dark, herbal grip. Made and released young with the focus on fruit, the wine is vivid and direct. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe raspberry and plum with black pepper, liquorice and the wild garrigue herbs of the south. The palate is full and warming at 14.5 per cent, the tannins ripe and supple, the finish savoury and peppery. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, lightly chilled in summer. It suits grilled lamb and herb roasted meats.