Cyril and Jean-Mi and Elliot "Blouge" Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2024

FROM SELECTION MASSALE:

THE WINE: Cinsault, ​Carbonic Cinsault, Grenache, Grenache Gris. I discovered Blouge not that long ago really, through some cuvées from Matassa I drank at Cave Septime...this whole blending process was quite fascinating to me. Cyril and I discussed the project pretty early on, we first got to work on a rosé base, out of my favorite grape there, Cinsault. And once that was done, we wanted more depth—a little more color, something more Tavel like, more vinous. We started incorporating another component, still Cinsault, but made it carbonic, the way he makes his 2 liter bottling. We threw that in one of his gorgeous circular Italian cement tanks outside the winery. A few month later, this crazy mix of freshness and seriousness was popping out of the glass. I always wondered how Emanuel Reynaud made his wines, and I swear with that glass in my hand, at that particular time, I convinced myself they were made that way. We decided to add a little bit of white for acid and minerality, and a little Grenache that was slightly reductive to keep the wine fresh through bottling. The result is drinking like Poulsard in texture; it’s not even 12% alcohol, but it’s certainly ripe and southern in many ways. I’ve never been more excited to drink buckets of one of our collaborative bottlings than this latest one, I must admit. - Guilhaume Gerard

THE PRODUCER: After a couple years of talks we made the move with our friend Cyril who grows the grapes for Martin Texier’s Boutanche. Cyril has been growing and harvesting Cinsault and Grenache for the Boutanche project for years, we knew the quality of fruit he was providing, his commitment to organic viticulture, and his vinification skills. Cyril runs a rather large estate of vineyards some parts he runs, the other, including a plot of old Syrah and a plot of Cabernet Sauvignon, he rents to his friend Jean Michel, who brings the fruit to the cave cooperative he runs, “Les Vignerons de Quissac”.