La Tannerie is a special cuvée produced at Les Vignobles Foncalieu, a large, historic growers’ cooperative that once housed a leather shop. The 2020 is a 50-50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grown just outside the famous medieval walled city. As a wine region, Carcassonne is rarely mentioned in a footnote. However, the person behind this wine is Gabriel Reutsch, highly regarded within France for viticultural experiments leading the way to wide scale adoption of non-interventionist, organic farming. At this price, this 2020 it is an extremely pleasing red with light plum fruit and solid berry and spice flavors. Well-balanced, it finishes with light, dusty tannins and, yes, a hint of leather. It displays more Cabernet Franc personality in structure and flavors with only a hint of Merlot fruitiness.
La Tannerie, Cité de Carcassonne IGP (Languedoc, France) 2020
By Norm Roby