Weeknight in Languedoc

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

Syrah-led Pic Saint-Loup entry red blending young-vine Hortus fruit with selected lots from neighbouring growers. Built for five-year drinking.

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

Sunny Pic Saint-Loup Syrah-led red, partly oak-aged. Spicy, peppery, supple - built for the dinner table rather than the cellar.

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 · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Fruity

Grand Cres' estate Corbieres red - a Grenache-Syrah-Cinsault blend (the Cuvee Senior in some sources); bright Mediterranean red with garrigue lift.

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

Syrah-Grenache entry red from Domaine de la Vieille, made organically. Built for everyday Pic Saint-Loup drinking.

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

Emblematic entry red of Bergerie du Capucin, declined in three colours. Approachable, fruit-forward with elegant red fruit and spice notes.

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

Syrah-Grenache IGP red from Reine Juliette, sourced from the Pays d'Oc plots. Approachable, fruit-forward Languedoc red.

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

An unoaked Syrah-Grenache built around fruit, freshness and finesse, the three watchwords of Mas Bruguière. Drink within seven years.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Fruity

Domaine la Grangette's everyday Picpoul. Character and elegance with green highlights and vibrant balance.

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

Mas Conscience's lead Terrasses du Larzac cuvée, drawing on the oldest Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault plots of the estate.

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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · Rustic · Easygoing

Grenache-dominant cuvée from harsh limestone-clay soils at Borie la Vitarèle. Mineral, powerful, but with discreet tannin structure.

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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing

Classic Picpoul de Pinet from the 68-hectare Saint Martin estate. Lively, fresh, with saline lift typical of the Etang de Thau lagoon-side vineyards.

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

Crisp 100% Picpoul on the red clay soils that give the wine its 'Terres Rouges' name. Saline, citrus-driven; Thau lagoon proximity gives salt-air aromatics.

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

Bright golden Picpoul with green tinges. Fresh, saline, with a mineral lengthy finish. Domaine Félines Jourdan's everyday cuvée and the reference Picpoul de Pinet.

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

Sea-scented Picpoul from Domaine la Grangette, named with a tongue-in-cheek 'pecking hen' pun on Picpoul. Salinity, fresh, floral, citrus-driven.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive

Sieur d'Arques' signature Blanquette de Limoux, three-grape blend aged 15 months on laths. The cooperative's reference traditional-method sparkling.

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

Pennautier's altitude-driven IGP red that previews the Cabardes signature - a blend of Atlantic (Cabernet, Merlot) and Mediterranean (Syrah, Grenache) varieties.