Abbotts & Delaunay, Boréas, Faugères

The region of Faugères lies about 20 miles north of the Mediterranean around the point the coast turns south towards Spain. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grown on schistous soils in vineyards up to 350 metres above sea level. Here the grapes ripen slowly, producing juice to make wine with plenty of freshness. After a fermentation with gentle pumping over, the wine undergoes a malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, 30% new; the wine is aged in these for about nine months. The finished wine is a deep garnet-red and shows red and black berries and cherry; the palate demonstrates freshness backed by ripe tannins and delivers plenty of fruit with notes of cocoa and spice.