Charming & Unique Southern French Red

Maxime Magnon Rozeta (Corbières 2015)
Special 6-pack Price: $194 (~$32/bottle)

It was only a few decades ago that the Languedoc-Roussillon was known mainly for its cheap and plentiful wine. Yet the best growers have proved that the region has far more to offer and continue to push the quality envelope. This reawakened focus on excellence over quantity is attracting young winemakers from all over France. Like native Burgundian, Maxime Magnon, who is reclaiming old-vine plots in high-altitude vineyards to produce wines that not only speak of the land from where they come but also made in a way which emphasize purity of the fruit and immediate drinkability. Wines of sun and stone.

A naturalist at heart, Maxime cultivates his vines with respect for nature and the soil – although what stands for soil here is mostly just pure rock and Mediterranean shrubland (garrigue). He’s certified organic, but also incorporates biodynamic practices into his vineyard management. A mule and several cattle serve for weed control and fertilization. In the cellar, sulfite usage is minimal and strictly governed. Aging of the wine is done in second-hand, Burgundian barrels sourced from a producer in Chassagne-Montrachet.

He has studied under some of the most respected winemakers in the Northern Rhône and Beaujolais, perhaps explaining his predilection for using whole cluster fermentation to create vibrant, balanced and juicy wine that still maintains its sense of place.

The 2015 Rozeta is a blend of old vine Carignan, Grenache, and Cinsault. It is full of bright red fruits and floral aromatics, with a crunchy backbone to balance it all out. Its medium body makes it ideal for pairing with lighter protein, pork chops for instance, while the energetic finish will buoy a winter plate of roasted root vegetables.

Other current-release cuvées available from Maxime Magnon

Maxime Magnon “Campagnes” (Corbières 2015) Red $46
Concentrated Carignan from 100-year-old vines. Capable of developing for a decade or more.

Maxime Magnon “La Begou” (Corbières 2015) White $42
Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, and a splash of Vermentino. Clean, complex, and refreshing.

Maxime Magnon “Metisse” (Corbières 2015) Rosé $29 SOLD OUT
A crisp, deep rosé of Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, and Grenache Blanc.

We also have a small amount of the 2012 vintage of both the Rozeta and Campagnes cuvées.

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Posted on 2017.01.04 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, Languedoc-Roussillon