Clos Fantine, Faugeres

Rhoney on the nose, with a riot of bright aromas -- fruit candy, banana, strawberry, cantaloupe, blackcurrant, green twig, blackberry, and an array of otherwise blended-in sour red fruits, with some funk. The wine is warmer and rounder on the palate, with some green twigs, darker fruit, hella barnyard, and bubblegum on the finish, plus pleasant acidity, and a light dusty black-tea tannin that gives the proper mineral/rustic character. Rustic Languedoc, glory to the Grenache and carry on, Carignan.

Lovely spice and pepper on the nose with meaty, leathery, paprika-laced tones, over top of red and black cherries and currants. The acidity is really refreshing on the palate, with dusty tannins, medium-bodied, with juicy black cherries and plums. Complex notes of pepper, beef drippings, campfire, with violets and clove. There’s a stony and mineral presence as well. Great now, but decant it or cellar it for a few years. Aged 18 months in concrete.

Gorgeous, rustic mix of dark fruit with earthy, funky, herbaceous notes. Plenty of opening over two days. Great food wine, a bit eye-opening on first sip without accompaniment.

Du gaz à l'ouverture, qui va s'estomper après une demi-heure. Il y a clairement deux façons de voir le vin, soit en mettant l'accent sur ses défauts, soit en soulignant le beau fruit noir, intense, la facilité d'accès donnée par l'absence de soufre ajouté, cette "liberté" dont parlent les aficionados des vins nature... Je n'oublie pas que la fin de bouteille est assez nettement dominée par les bretts, donc c'est pas l'extase, j'ai bu nettement mieux dans le genre et …