Known as the “keeper of the castle”, Jean-François Hénin, originally from Saint-Aubin in Burgundy, inherited his passion for wine and the Mourvèdre grape from his father Stéphane Hénin, a well-respected agronomist.

The grape varietals in this wine are Grenache, Carignan, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Carignan is mostly from old vine plantings and sourced from a windswept, elevated plateau. Black fruits and dried spices abound in this medium bodied, well balanced red. The mouth-feel is black raspberry puree, crushed blackberries and freshly picked blueberries that are held together in a satiny core. The amount of melted, dark chocolate in the middle is off the charts and stretches through the entire length. The fruit is uplifted with a touch of freshness. This wine is definitely at a higher quality level than most Côtes du Rhône Villages wines.

By W Peter Hoyne