La Remontada The Comeback. Named in honour of the Champions League's greatest comeback when Barcelona beat PSG 6-1 to win 6-5 on aggregate back in 2017. And we welcome back this wine under its new name. Haven't had it for a few years but it's made like an Italian Ripasso (see our beauty from Brunelli).

It's a declassified (because the method is not recognised Jeff again) Cotes du Roussillon and it's very, very lovely! It has that lovely schistous (look it up) character typical of the Roussillon wines but is super-silky-smooth because of the extra maceration of skins. Drink, sip, enjoy.

As the man himself says; ‘The colour is very dark purple, bordering on opaque, deep and dense.The nose presents aromas of black fruits, red fruit jam, pepper and torrefaction. The palate is full, juicy, fleshy, fruity, spicy and mineral. 

I was introduced to Jeff by a French winemaker, whose opinion I highly valued, and what a great introduction that turned out to be. In fact, equally as good as the introduction to Clotilde Chauvet made by the same guy! This was my first real visit to Narbonne and Jeff took us to Le Petit Comptoir – a bistro with excellent food and all accompanied by his wines, of course. He also introduced me to the comic series of secret service agent San Antonio. ‘Romans Noirs’, as they say. If I’m asked, which I often am, would I like to have owned my own vineyard, my response is now firmly ‘No’. I would do what Jeff has done (except that I couldn’t) which is to work with different grape growers in different places and indulge his genius over a wide variety of grapes and styles and terroirs. No limits… If the wider Languedoc region of southern France were a country in its own right it would be my favourite wine-growing country. It has successfully managed to combine a growing level of quality regional wines conforming to the structures and confines of Appellation Contrôlée with the freedom to experiment using its vast range of grapes and soils and microclimates to produce ground-breaking new wines freed from those Appellation Contrôlée shackles. The best of both worlds. Jeff Carrel reflects this freedom with his wide range of wines and styles.

Grilled meats, spicy roasted vegetables, curries…