Region: Minervois
Producer: Jean Baptiste et Charlotte Sénat
Jean-Baptiste and Charlotte Sénat were ahead of the curve on the whole natural wine thing. They produced their very first vintages back in 1996, after moving back to their native land in the Languedoc region in ‘95. Stationed in the hills of Montagne Noire, the pair are firm believers in the impact of climate on viticulture practices (even over terroir). And in the years since that first vintage, they've become major pioneers in natural winemaking in the region…all while their own style has properly honed itself (read: matured). The wines are drawn exclusively from organically farmed, native grape varietals (Grenache, baby) without fining, filtering, or the and only moderate additions of sulfur. And frankly, they’ve long been the epitome of “easy drinking.”
Varietal: Grenache gris, grenache noir, grenache blanc
If you poured this three-Grenache blend into a glass, you’d find it to be a dreamy high-octane red, plenty reminiscent of the wild cherry aromas it emits (with bits of blackberry and licorice woven in). The stuff is light enough to masquerade as a rosé, but with richer, silkier undertones and a bold, mineral backbone.