2020 ICHE "LES HERETIQUES" VIN DE PAYS D'HERAULT

2020 ICHE "LES HERETIQUES" VIN DE PAYS D'HERAULT, LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON, FRANCE. 100% Carignan. (Organic)

This old-vine Carignan from the famed vineyards of Chateau d’Oupia in the Minervois region of Southwest France can’t be beat in quality for the price. The fruit is hand-harvested from sustainably-farmed old vines, the sort that yield Carignan with the ideal balance of flavor and depth. Medium-bodied with lithe tannins, this wine sings of fresh raspberries and blueberries with subtle garrigue accents for a hint of complexity. Produced with partial fermentation in neutral wood, this juicy red is delicious on its own but even better with food. It truly is the “ideal bistro wine” and a Mission Wines go-to for year-round entertaining!

About the Producer: André Iché inherited Chateau d'Oupia, an impressive 13th century castle and a large estate in the Minervois region, in the latter half of the 20th century. He tended his very old vines by hand and sold everything he made in bulk to local négociants until near the turn of the millennium when a Burgundian winemaker visiting Oupia was so impressed that convinced Iché to bottle and market his production. Iché expanded his vineyard holdings and quickly became recognized as a legend in the region until he passed away in 2007. Robert Parker has consistently praised this estate and rated the wine a “best buy.” He wrote: “Château d'Oupia has produced the ideal bistro wine. Dark, ruby-colored, the wine is wonderfully clean and pure, with an exuberant personality, and gobs of rich, peppery, red and black fruit...Bravo to proprietor André Iché!”