Languedoc, France
AOP Minervois
This is a phenomenal family-run estate in the south of France, near the medieval city of Carcassonne, with woodland and garrigue covering two thirds of the domaine - and much of the land beyond that - providing a refuge for migratory birds and wild animals, as well as a healthy ecological protection for the interspersed 26 hectares of vine plots.
Before 2001, St. Jacques was just a grape grower, selling their harvest off to the local Cave Cooperative. After the estate was sold, a radical shift to agriculture took place, focusing on organic long-term soil management with an emphasis on replacing high-yielding, low-quality vines with low-yielding, high-quality vines.
Today there are 10 varietals planted across the estate with Syrah and Grenache combining for 50% of the plantings and white grape varietals accounting for 20%.
Petit Rouge is composed of the aforementioned Syrah and Grenache, vinified in stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity of fruit. Very fruity with no oak, it's a medium-bodied wine with notes of cherry, violet, blackberry and touches of spice. An intense and persistent wine with fine tannins and a long spicy finish.
It's hard not to get excited about wines that deliver such extraordinary value and still respect the fundamentals of vineyard ecology, organic farming and minimal intervention winemaking. Dy-na-mite!
Drink with a platter of cold meats.