Mas Jullien Terrasses du Larzac 2018

The Languedoc’s glow-up needs to be studied. What was once a wine region that hurled out less-than-favorable bulk-production wines has found its footing in small, family-run producers who value terroir, quality, and savvy variety choices. This organic Mourvèdre/Carignan/Syrah blend comes from one such producer, and gives off almost an ethereal dark-red-fruited and savory-earth vibe. 93 points and way down to $34.95 (from $65 retail)!

Mas Jullien is often called the spearhead of the modern Languedoc revival. Olivier Jullien founded the domain in 1985 in the village of Jonquières, north of Montpellier. By carefully studying his soils and working with native grape varieties, he elevated the estate to the top rank of the Terrasses du Larzac appellation – one of France's newer AOCs, created in 2005 for reds grown on the high, cool terraces below the Cévennes.

“...a delicate, open-knit wine that's in the sweet spot where it offers lovely aromatic presence to play off its mid-weight structure.” –Vinous, 93 Points

The "Autour de Jonquières" (“around Jonquières”) cuvée lives up to its name, assembled from roughly 10 lieux-dits in and around the village, chosen for how they complement one another. The grapes are vinified gently and aged first in demi-muids by individual plot before a further year in foudres. The blend is 40% Mourvèdre, 40% Carignan, and 20% Syrah from old, low-yielding vines farmed organically.

So many dark purple and red fruits jump from the glass – plums and juicy berries galore – layered with savory and earth-forward notes of thyme, cedar, leather, and even a tinge of hay. Fine tannins and an uncanny freshness hint at its youthfulness (at least in the Languedoc’s terms), but it’s still massively friendly now with loads of charge to last many years to come in your collection if you happen to stow it away.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Rustic fare is the pick here, and my mouth is watering just thinking of a hearty, tender chicken cassoulet with this splendid French red.