2017 Thomas Jullien Ventoux 'Sur le Fil'

Region: Ventoux < France

Grapes: 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: certified organic farming, gravel and clay soils, 40-year-old vines, co-fermented and aged in concrete tanks, 1g/hl of SO2 added at bottling; 13.5% ABV

Winemaker: Thomas Jullien

I was skeptical when first presented with the Thomas Jullien Ventoux, not being a huge fan of Grenache, and making a mental note of the high-ish (for me) 13.5% alcohol. Once I tasted it though the particulars faded away - my Grenache spirit animal had been found! Juicy-juice red fruit mingles with some ripe plum + some exotic spice notes and tannin in the right proportion all make for a lip-smacking treat. The man behind the wine, Thomas Jullien, grew up in the foothills of Mount Ventoux where he farms these grapes organically. They come from a mix of three different vineyards and are selected specially for the ‘Sur le Fil’ which is self-described by Thomas as the ‘glou glou’ cuvée. You hear this a lot from us, but, please, serve with a slight chill! Those spices are going to pair perfectly with an afternoon mezze platter or roasted chickpeas.