Loire, France
“Enjouée” means playful or joyful, a perfect descriptor for this vibrant, fresh wine. Vincent and Emmanuel Ogereau both play the tuba, thus the nod to their preferred instrument on the label.
This cuvée used to be called "L'Anjouée Rouge," when the blend consisted only of Anjou's AOP-allowed varieties. As of the 2019 vintage, this wine is a Vin de France due to the inclusion of other local varieties that are not allowed by the official AOP. In 2021, two-thirds of the domaine's harvest was lost during catastrophic April frost. The domaine, thus, purchased organic Grolleau and Cabernet Franc from grower friends in the region who were less impacted in order to complete this cuvée.
Gamay and Pineau d'Aunis undergo semi-carbonic maceration while Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grolleau are destemmed and aged about 5 months in underground, tile-lined tanks. There's stewed plums and bright raspberry on the nose, with a palate of cassis, red cherries and spice. This has a certain elegance to it, with softness and vibrancy playing a prominent role.
This is a very good barbecue red and drinks beautifully with grilled sausages, wild mushrooms or a simple pepperoni pie.