Jean Philippe Padié 'Le Pacha' Carignan 2022

A top-tier Carignan—a favorite variety of ours from Mediterranean France that few people pay attention to! Taken from a plot selection of old vines, 90% of which are planted on calcareous marl and 10% on schist—very interesting soil types that result in an ultra-fine sensation of structure on the palate, but present nonetheless. Padié farms organically and biodynamically; this Carignan saw about two weeks of whole-cluster maceration, without pumpover or punchdown, in big concrete tanks. After a gentle press, he put in neutral demi-muids and amphora during the winter for an aging period before blending and bottling. Juicy dark cherry, with spice and earth, just a really elegant and fine bottling from perhaps our favorite winemaker in the hotbed village of Calce in the Côte Catalanes.