La Tire by Jeff Carrel

La Tire means 'car' in French slang and the wine's name and label is a homage to the Citroën 2CV car which was first manufactured in 1948, the same year that the AOC Fitou appellation came into being.

Its vines are cultivated in schist and shale soils in the higher areas of the appellation. Here in Villeneuve les Corbières in the Languedoc region of southern France, Carignan and Syrah plants enjoy the ideal conditions to thrive and ripen perfectly.

A combination of carbonic maceration and a short time spent ageing in tanks obtains the essence of the fruit - plain and simple with no tricks. La Tire has a seductive intense purplish red colour and aromas which bring to mind baskets of recently-gathered wild fruits. It offers a medium body in the mouth, brimming with freshness and energy, and a character far removed from the austerity of more traditional Fitou wines. Slowly but surely, green pepper and other spices appear, accompanied by violets, blackberries, cranberries, scrubland, and light touches of anise and liquorice. In the mouth, it has a crispy acidity thanks to the character of Carignan, with defined yet delicate tannins. It leaves behind a pleasantly fine mineral taste of small stones with an elegantly bitter taste calling out for company.

La Tire is a young and lively wine. Easy to drink, its explosion of fruit in an Old World style makes it very moreish. Best enjoyed cool, at 12-14º, it pairs well with red meats or cold meat which is not too spiced. Its character will allow it to improve for a couple of years in the bottle, but we suggest drinking it now and enjoying its fruit in all its splendour.