Martin Texier Grenache VdF Rouge, Rhône Valley, France 2023

FROM SELECTION MASSALE:

THE WINE: This grenache comes from 30+ year old vines planted mostly on granite, with bits of limestone, quartz, schist, and gneiss in there as well. Foot-crushed whole clusters saw a week of maceration in tank before pressing, followed by a brief time resting in concrete. An eminently drinkable - yet sophisticated - cherry-forward expression of grenache. Look for some dried strawberry with dark cherry/black berry base notes on a fine-tannin food-friendly treat any night of the week. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Certified organic, low-intervention/natural wine.

THE PRODUCER: Martin Texier (you may have heard of his father, Eric, the now famous northern Rhône natural wine producer) began making wine in 2014 after a previous life studying economics. After leaving university, he ventured into music (he is an accomplished DJ) and also spent time in New York City learning about the wine trade here (he held internships at both Uva Wines in Brooklyn and Flatiron Wines in Manhattan, as well as the greatest record store in the world, A1 Records). It was after this that he realized that his calling was to follow in his father’s footsteps and return to the vines.

He now has five hectares in and around St.-Julien-en-St.-Alban, planted to classic Rhône varieties, both red and white. There are many different soil types here: clay, limestone, gneiss, schist and granite, making for a wide range of different styles of wine to be made. Martin’s passion is to revive the local traditions of working the natural way, both in the vines and in the cellar (native yeast fermentations, no sulfur). The results he has been getting this early in his career are a clear testament to his skills.