Domaine Cambis, Caudomato, St-Chinian, Languedoc, France 2023

Impressive finesse coming from this blend of 80-year-old Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, all grown on brown schist soils. Caudomato is the name of the old Carignan plot, planted at 350m altitude, and comes from the Occitan for hot (caudo) and garrigue or forest (mato). The wine is inky dark and initially showing aromas of ripe and oozing blackberry and Morello cherry fruit, with subtle touches of grilled tomato and dried thyme. Then it surprises with a wave of red-fruited freshness, more like raspberries and juicy strawberries, giving an utterly delicious succulence to the finish. It's so fluid, with a fine tannic weave. This is hyper fresh and so moreish, just the kind of wine I want to drink. Aged for 12 months in large oak foudres.