Château Ste-Eulalie, Cuvée Cantilène, Minervois La Livinière, 2015

This dynamic Minervois estate is run by Laurent and Isabelle Coustal, who took ownership in 1996. Its terraced vineyards lie on south-facing slopes, with Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault planted on pebbly soils with a high proportion of chalk, clay and manganese. Cuvée Cantilene is its premium bottling, coming from old vines and aged for a year in barrel, 25-50% of which are, depending on the vintage. This is a polished performer, with ripe and spicy blackberry fruit. Dark and delicious.