2021 Mas del Périé ‘Tu Vin Plus Aux Soirées’

Region: Cahors < France

Grapes: 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified Biodynamic, average 25 year year old vines, limestone soil, 350m altitude, fermented in old oak or cement, partial carbonic maceration, unfined and unfiltered, < 30 ppm SO2; 12% ABV

Winemaker: Fabien Jouves

NEW VINTAGE ALERT! Fabien Jouves first made a name for himself in the wine world with his phenomenal and revolutionary, at the time, AOC Cahors wines. His lineup of terroir and vineyard specific Malbec as well as his youth and brazen personality all made for good debate. Only just 30 years old now, Fabien took over his parent’s estate in 2008 and boldly started bottling his Cahors in – gasp – a Burgundy bottle. While not regulated by the AOC, every appellation in South West France goes by the unspoken rule of bottling in a Bordeaux bottle to mimic their neighbors to the north. Why Burgundy? Because Fabien saw their philosophy as much more aligned with his – a focus on vineyard, terroir, delicate and personal winemaking – as something he wanted to emulate. Now, he has gone even further astray from the AOC and created an entire lineup of vins de soif, the easier drinking, fun labeled version of his AOC wines. While he was always working naturally, these put him on the natty map, and now he is a fixture at natural wine fairs around the world. This wine is super fresh – and as the label suggests, it’s a party in your mouth. There is a dark and slightly sweet, ripe fruit note that, instead of weighing down the palate, makes us want to drink more. It has a lot to do with its herby spice and great acidity, even a little tannin. Serve ever so slightly chilled, with friends, ideally at your own soiree.