As producer Jeff himself says; ‘Almost like purple ink. Fine, seducer, almost like a cream of dark fruits, with a slight milky and spicy touch. Fine, slender (thanks to the magic of the schist ground), will round off and gain in amplitude and density, a beautiful balance.

The final taste is chewy and intense, very marked by dark fruits and even more so by spices. Goes well with mixed grills, piquillos, leg of lamb, cheese of course…’

15.5% of lovely Grenache, which, by the way, is the predominant grape variety in a Chateauneuf du Pape....just saying....

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.

Mixed grills, piquillos, leg of lamb, cheese of course…