2017 Domaine Rimbert Saint-Chinian "Berlou"

Jean-Marie Rimbert is a true son of the soil; born and raised on his family's farm in Provence, he trained as an agriculturist before embarking on a 40+ year career as a winemaker. After spending 15 years working at various estates in the Languedoc like Chateau de Flaugergues, he decided to strike out on his own. Alas, vineyards in his native Provence proved to be too expensive, so in the Languedoc he would stay, founding Domaine Rimbert in 1996 in St. Chinian Berlou, an area sporting some of the oldest carignan vines in France. This particular cuvée, though it contains some of that carignan (and also grenache) is actually syrah-dominant, giving this bold red some black olive notes. Plenty of dark and red fruit with some spiciness and minerality, this wine is screaming “where’s the beef?” Or lamb, I guess.