Carignan in Languedoc

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Centenarian Carignan-led cuvée at Mas Lou, with Lledoner Pelut reinforcing the matrix. Crisp red fruit and mineral lift; one of the freshest Faugères reds.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Fruity · Easygoing

Approachable Canet Valette Saint-Chinian, in deliberate contrast (Antonyme) to the estate's bigger Maghani. Fresh, fine tannin, biodynamic.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Bold

High-end Corbieres-Boutenac of Ollieux Romanis from manually-harvested grapes; Carignan-led with Grenache and Mourvedre, structured for long ageing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

The estate red of Mas Jullien, drawing from the village vineyards around Jonquieres; mid-weight Languedoc with garrigue depth, fine grain and a savoury finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Fruity

Old-vine Carignan-Grenache-Mourvèdre from Brigitte Chevalier's organic Faugères vineyards at 300 metres. Elegant, fresh, mineral-driven.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Four-grape Languedoc red from Saint Martin. Approachable, garrigue-driven; retail around €14-20 across French independents.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The single-parcel cuvée from a sandstone-and-schist terroir east of Jonquieres; precise, structured and built to age 10 to 15 years from a top vintage.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Wild Syrah-led Berlou schist cuvée; a micro-production of about 1,200 bottles in the best vintages. Sweet spice from the Orient and the New World.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Syrah-led flagship of Ollier-Taillefer, four-grape blend. Aged in French oak with only 15% new wood to preserve terroir over wood character.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Syrah-led mid-tier Saint-Chinian from Mas Champart's argilo-calcareous Bousquet plateau. Precise and controlled style; rewards 90 RVF points.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Rustic

La Clape four-variety red of Pech-Celeyran with vegetal aromas of rosemary, laurel and rockrose; ripe red and dark fruit.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Mas Champart's flagship cuvee since 2000: 65% Mourvedre from massale selection originating at Domaine Tempier (Bandol), blended with 70-110 year-old Carignans and Grenache, aged 85% in demi-muid.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Complex Corbieres-Boutenac from Fontsainte with savours of garrigue and great distinction; cherry-jam fruit with vanilla and cinnamon.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Rustic

The estate red of Sylvain Fadat, drawn from the Aupilhac lieu-dit at Montpeyroux. Mourvedre-led with great complexity on the nose and palate.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Full-bodied traditional Corbieres blend of the appellation's three primary grapes; black raspberry and garrigue with a textured, mouth-filling palate.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Estate Corbieres of Voulte-Gasparets, a Carignan-Grenache-led blend with Syrah and Mourvedre; classic mid-weight Corbieres with garrigue depth.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Rustic

Carignan-led flagship of Voulte-Gasparets, named for a family ancestor. Rich expressive nose with prune and spice, peppered garrigue notes; ample, balanced palate with silky tannins.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Premium Minervois cuvée of Oupia from a selection of old-vine best plots, aged 20 months in Bordeaux barriques; more elegant and restrained than Tradition with similar dark berries and spicy aromas.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Fruity · Elegant

Mas Champart's entry red, a five-grape Saint-Chinian blend on clay-limestone hill. Fresh fruit, herbal lift, fine tannin.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Old-vine Carignan-led entry red from biodynamic icon Didier Barral. From 40-70-year-old vines on Faugères schist; aged unoaked in cement and steel.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Ruby with intense tiled reflections, garrigue aromas, jammy and spicy notes with subtle hints of black fruit and gingerbread; fine elegant tannins and vivacity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Refreshing · Fruity

Pale rosé from direct pressing of Grenache Gris (with Carignan, Grenache and Cinsault); fruits blancs et exotiques aromatics with a saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Mid-tier biodynamic Faugères from Léon Barral, named Jadis (formerly). Carignan-Syrah-Grenache from schist; cement and old oak. A cellar wine in the making.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Balanced and expressive top cuvée of Aupilhac; cinnamon, white pepper and ginger notes with raspberry and gooseberry fruit. Built to age.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Fruity

Entry-level La Clape of La Negly; bright and savoury, designed to drink well young with the estate's coastal character.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Elegant

La Clape's Mediterranean overlook expressed in Negly's Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre-Carignan blend; structured fruit with garrigue depth from the coastal massif.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Grenache-led tribute to the family home's yellow facade. Supple, syrupy, with a fine spice and leather register from 15 months in foudres and Burgundian barrels.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Savoury

Estate La Clape of Hospitalet built on Syrah-Mourvedre-Grenache-Carignan; traditional maceration with a portion vinified by carbonic maceration. The everyday face of the chateau.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Syrah-led Minervois-La Liviniere from a winding-road parcel below La Liviniere; expressive black-fruit aromas and silky tannins from concrete-egg ageing.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Grenache-dominated Minervois-La Liviniere of Chateau Maris with 15% Syrah and a splash of Carignan; minerality and black/blue fruit with floral lift.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Grenache-led second wine of La Peira with 25% Syrah and smaller parts of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan; fragrant, fine, structured.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Pure old-vine Carignan from Aupilhac; slightly smoky with aromas of black fruit and liquorice. A reference for the variety in the Languedoc.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Old-vine Carignan-led entry red of the Bowens; a blend of Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Vinified in carbonic maceration for some parcels.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Fruity

Entry red of Château La Liquière from the Les Amandiers vineyard. Unoaked, fresh, four-grape blend that captures the Faugères schist signature.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Syrah-led red from Cazeneuve's hard limestone parcels. Built for early drinking with a three to four year ageing arc.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

Entry-level red of Ollier-Taillefer. Appealing, flavourful, schist-driven; the everyday Faugères of the estate.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Parcel-selection top cuvée from the rocky Combariolles terroir; intense aromas of dried flowers, cinnamon and quetsche with structured tannin.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

The entry cuvée of Olivier Jullien, balanced and approachable young with garrigue lift and silky tannins; the most affordable entry to the Mas Jullien range.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Bold

Powerful, well-balanced Languedoc red from Domaine de la Marfee's Gres de Montpellier vineyards; biodynamic with structured fruit and mineral spine.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Easygoing

Radiant Coteaux du Languedoc expression of the hills around Montpellier. Limestone soils on the foothills of the Larzac plateau; north winds keep the wine fresh.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Funky

Field blend of nearly-forgotten Occitan varieties - Alicante (1927), Aramon (1930), Piquepoul Noir (1910), Carignan (1910); a manifesto for the region's heritage grapes.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Fruity

Entry red from the Sauvageonne estate named for the volcanic ruffes (red clay) soils; bright, savoury and approachable.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Grenache-led Saint-Chinian from biodynamic schist parcels at altitude on steep hillsides. Velvety mouthfeel despite concentration and character.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Old-vine Carignan-Grenache from Blandine's Tonillières plot, planted to 60-year-old Carignan. Concrete and old-oak ageing preserves freshness and old-vine depth.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Contemplative

Old-vine (1911-planted) pure Carignan from Clos du Gravillas - Lo Vielh means 'the old one'; smoky, liquorice-tinged and structured for long ageing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Refreshing

Mouth-wateringly fresh, fruity entry red of Aupilhac; silky tannins, juicy red fruit and Mediterranean herb lift.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Fruity

Saint-Chinian Classic from La Madura: Grenache-led with the four traditional appellation varieties. Aromatic complexity and supple tannin.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Top Corbieres cuvée of Domaine Sainte Croix made from old-vine Carignan, Grenache and Syrah; built for long ageing with depth and savoury core.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Rustic

The everyday Mas Olivier Faugères, the entry red of the Faugères cooperative. Approachable, schist-driven, available in bottle and bag-in-box.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Mid-tier Mas Olivier Faugères, the cooperative's barrel-aged cuvée. Generous and warm with smoky and vanilla notes from a year-long barrel ageing.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Rustic

Top-tier Mas Olivier Grande Réserve, the cooperative's flagship Faugères. Extended barrel-ageing; structured and warm.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Aromatic, full and densely-coloured Minervois with a long dark-fruit finish; Carignan-led from up-to-100-year-old vines with 40% Syrah and 10% Grenache.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Sister premium cuvée to Cuvee des Barons at Chateau d'Oupia, sharing the same Syrah-Carignan blend from old-vine best plots with extended barrique ageing.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Contemplative

Old-vine Carignan from Faugères schist, named Nos Racines (our roots). Reflects the heritage of Carignan as the soul of the appellation.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Entry-level La Peira cuvée built on Cinsault and Carignan, two of the region's heritage Southern France grapes; bright, savoury and structured.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Fruity

Estate Minervois of Domaine du Petit Causse; bright Mediterranean blend designed for everyday enjoyment.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Old-vine Minervois-La Liviniere of Clos du Gravillas; Carignan-led with Syrah and Cinsault from organically-farmed parcels.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Rustic

Old-vine Carignan-based blend from a vineyard whose Carignan vines celebrated their 100th birthday in 2004; rich confit fruit and vanilla with garrigue.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Biodynamic Corbieres-Boutenac built on Carignan with Syrah and Mourvedre; amphora-aged portion adds freshness to the structured oak component.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

The historic estate cuvée of Mas Cal Demoura (formerly L'Infidele, renamed in 2015); a five-variety Languedoc blend from across the estate's parcels, mid-weight and structured.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Five-grape blend traditional to Saint-Chinian. Refined, concentrated, with silky tannin and garrigue lift. Long maceration (70-90 days).

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Old-vine pure Carignan from 1905-planted vines at Domaine Pierre Cros; fine and supple with candied plum, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon.