Clos Bagatelle À L’Origine 
AOP Saint-Chinian 
Languedoc
Syrah 25%, Grenache Noir 20%, Mourvèdre 20%
13.5% abv 
Vibrant, seductively smooth fruit and exemplary balance, a cracking southern French red.
 
Situated 50kms north of the Mediterranean, Clos Bagatelle is in the foothills of the Caroux and Espinouse mountains. Whilst the estate's geologically diverse range of soils includes schist, limestone and sandstone, this cuvée is the produce solely of clay-limestone. The old Carignan and Cinsault vines, planted on arid soils, are trained en gobelet. The Syrah and Mourvèdre vines are more recent as they were planted in the 1980s. All grapes are handpicked and destemmed and the varieties are each fermented separately - 10 days for the Carignan and 35 for the Mourvèdre - with ageing in large oak casks. 25% Syrah, 20% Grenache Noir, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Cinsault, 15% Carignan.
 
A fresh, quite pretty nose of strawberry and red fruit is followed by a palate that is both rich and beautifully fresh. Equal measures of Syrah, Carignan and Grenache and a dash of Mourvedre create a wine full of mulberry fruit, black olives and an earthy tang with excellent balance and a generous structure.
Food match
A hearty southern red that will shine alongside a cassoulet, a spicy bolognese or a good pizza.