Gaillac Peyrouzelles Causse Marines 2020

Gaillac Peyrouzelles Causses Marines, biodynamic red wine, dry, fruity, incredibly pure rich and full, a wine which oozes French countryside, delicious.  Gaillac Peyrouzelles is a deliciously balanced, fruit forward biodynamic red wine.  They make it from old vines which grow on unique terroir.  Peyrouzelles comes from the name of the plot of vines and means pink rocks in the Occitan language because of the pink limestone rocks found in the soils.  This blend of local varieties is one of the most drinkable glasses of red you could find.  It also ages superbly.  The oldest bottle I tasted was at 5 years.  I suspect 10 or even 15 year old Peyrouzelles would be absolutely superb.  The new 2020 vintage is particularly delicious due to warmth of the vintage, the abv is 15% and the wine is rich, smooth and utterly moreish, with some blue cheese, it is stunning.

Situated in Gaillac, Domaine Causse Marines is a 15 hectares wine estate managed by Patrice Lescarret and Virginie Maignien, both winemakers.

Patrice studied oenology in Bordeaux and then worked in Sancerre and Provence.  After a few years of working conventionally for others, he made the big leap and created his own estate in 1993.  He bought 8 hectares of vineyards from a retiring farmer. Virginie was a student of the ESSEC business school who quit everything to enrol in a wine school in Beaune.  After having met Patrice whilst on a brief training stint at his vineyard she never left his side again.

The vineyards at Causse Marines are made of very old vines dating back to world war two.  Pascal and Virginie mainly grow indigenous grape varieties such as Mauzac, Loin de L'Oeil, Ondenc and Braucol.  They also have some old vine plantings of Syrah.  Soils are calcareous limestone on a rocky plateau. The vineyard is Demeter certified biodynamic.  Their philosophy is simple, look after the land and let the wines make themselves.

Patrice Lescarret is one of our favourites.  He has just bought a small 'Mas' or farmhouse in the Pyrenees just south of Jurancon; in his words 'to escape'.  He is a man after our own heart, at one with nature and always in pursuit of honesty and authenticity in his life.  His delicious, imperfect wines reflect his philosophy 100%.