2021 Domaine Mămărutá Kézako

Region: Fitou < Languedoc < France

Grapes: Carignan

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic/biodynamic farming; 100% whole cluster then fermented in fiberglass; bottled unfined/unfiltered with no added So2; 11.5% ABV

Winemaker: Marc Castan

Marc Castan founded Domaine Mămărutá, based in the Fitou AOC near the sea in the Languedoc, in 2009.  Apparently, from the moment he graduated from high school, Marc was headed straight for the vines. Winemaking is in his family – his grandfather was a vigneron – but he felt a real pull towards the land. Even the name of his estate, “Mămărutá” which is Romanian for ‘Ladybug' (the universal symbol for organic farming) is telling.  Because of course, they are the guardians of a healthy farm, helping – among other things – rid a vineyard of aphids and mites. His 10 hectare estate is in La Palme, right along the Mediterranean sea, a location that is windy. Very, very windy.  The wind reduces disease pressure, as well as mold/mildew concerns, so Marc was able to immediately convert to organic farming, and he's now on the way to biodynamic certification!  Here he makes tiny lots of light, fresh wines, atypical of the warm region, all zero-zero.  

Like our new fall favorite glou glou, Kézako.  The Carignan for this juicy, chillable red come from one small plot, sandwiched between the foothills of the Pyrenees to the west and the Mediterranean to the east.  Lean and lithe in body, with soft tannins, bright acid and poppy red fruit that manages to is youthful and fun but not simple.  Fun, easy, crowd-pleasing red for all sorts of holiday gatherings.  Stock up.

SERVE SLIGHTLY CHILLED