Château Fontareche Vieilles Vignes Corbieres 2023

Deep purple in the glass, this Southern charmer bursts with blackberries and a hint of liquorice. Old vines from the Corbières region give this red its richness and depth. It's a blend of classic grapes - Syrah, Grenache, with some Marselan and Carignan for good measure. The winemaking aims for plushness, crafting soft tannins that make this remarkably easy to drink. This isn't the rustic Corbières of old - it's a modern, fruit-forward style that's all about pure pleasure and immediate enjoyment.

A warming, easy-drinking red - lovely on its own or a comforting match with sausages and mash or a slow-cooked stew.

Château Fontareche, near Narbonne is a bit of a hidden gem. It's quite a historic estate and on their 160 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards things are taken quite seriously. The gravel and limestone soils are just right for vines, and while the climate can be tricky, Jacques De Lamy knows his stuff and this corner of the Corbières pretty well. His focus on getting the fruit perfectly ripe shows his expertise and is the secret behind Fontareche's consistently top-notch wines.