Olivier Coste Mourvédre Illegal red wine, 2019
A juicy and smooth wine with dark fruit aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant, layered with violets and a touch of black pepper and wild herbs.
Producer Note - Since his childhood, Olivier Coste's favourite place to play was in the vineyards and the wine cellar at his family’s wine estate, which was founded in 1701 in Pézenas. With this upbringing, he developed a passion for nature, the Languedoc region and southern French wines. The vineyards are located a few kilometres from Pézenas where the Mediterranean Sea asserts its influence on the vines. The estate is certified HVE3, which complements the family’s existing ‘Carbon Neutral’ approach. They reduce their CO2 emissions, keeping them to a minimum and offset the rest by financing ecological initiatives, including projects in India. Olivier’s (OC) original Stars range has been created for those who appreciate a modern, fresh and fruity varietal wine and is complemented by quirky packaging.
Vintage - A few days of heavy rainfall in winter gave the vines nearly a year's equivalent of water, which provided fruitful reserves during the dry spring and summer that followed. The dry weather also minimised the risk of disease in the vineyard. Fortunately, the vineyards were spared the worst of the heat wave that impacted much of the Languedoc and the vines did not suffer, ultimately reaching excellent maturity.
Vineyard - This wine comes from a small two-hectare appellation, which is revered for the intense and concentrated wines it produces. However, it is produced from Mourvèdre, a grape variety which is not allowed under the appellation law of this tiny appellation, hence its name ‘Illégal'’, thus it is labelled as ‘Vin de France’. The 32-year old vines are planted on a south-facing plot; as Mourvèdre is a late-ripening variety, it needs full sun to reach optimum maturity. It is grown in schist soils, which provide drainage to create deep roots and water reserves for the vines and results in freshness and minerality in the wine. The vines are trained on wire trellises on the Double Royat system, which with two overlapping branches, promotes the maximum sap distribution in the vines. They are spaced at 2x2 metres to offer height and a larger foliage surface area, promoting good conditions for grape maturation. The fruit is hand-harvested in the cool of the night to preserve freshness and quality.
Winemaking - The grapes were carefully selected, 100% destemmed and macerated for three weeks to extract aromas, colour and tannins. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts in temperature-controlled vats, with regular pump-overs to enhance the aromatic expression. The wine was matured in concrete vats for eighteen months without the influence of oak, allowing the purity of fruit to be fully expressed.
Tasting Note - A soft and approachable wine with dark fruit aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant, layered with spice and a touch of black pepper. Beautifully balanced with a fresh palate and a long, fruit-driven finish.
Grape Mourvèdre 100%
Winemaker: Olivier Coste
Region: Vin de France
Country: France
Alcohol: 13%
BodyValue: B (A is light, E is full bodied)
ResidualSugar: 0
Contains Sulphites: Yes
Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes/No
Milk/Eggs: No/Yes
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Closure: Screwcap
