Charles Cros 2023

Over 40 years ago, the small co-operative in Fabrezan, a top Corbières area, produced a special style of red. It was made by macération carbonique – handpicked bunches of grapes were left whole to ferment and the wine taken off the skins at the precise moment when there was optimum fruit, colour and aroma. It took precision and was costly. So the style was dropped. When a new winemaker arrived at the cellar a few years back, he restored its production and this is the delicious result. It's named after the inventor and poet (he inspired the surrealist movement), Charles Cros, who was born in Fabrezan in 1842. Native grapes of Carignan, Syrah and Mourvèdre were carefully vinified to make this delicious, smooth red that's fruity and moreish.