Domaine Oratoire St. Martin, Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne (France) 2013

 You may not be familiar yet with the Cairanne appellation in the Côtes du Rhône, but it was promoted to appellation status in its own right in 2016, joining such well known names as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas.  One of the finest producers in Cairanne is Domaine Oratoire St. Martin, owned by brothers Frédéric and François Alary, the 10th generation of winemakers at this estate.  Since 2012 the estate has been run Biodynamically, and no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in the vineyard, and some plots are still plowed by horse.  This Grenache-Mourvèdre blend is beautifully structured, with a superb fruit to acid balance.  Dense and complex, and with 13.5% alcohol, it is, all in all, a perfect red wine to enjoy with summer meals.