Domaine Fontsainte
Corbieres La Demoiselle 2020

Hailing from the rugged and windswept hills of Corbières, which teem with garrigue and olive groves, La Demoiselle delivers a glorious taste of France’s South. The label indicates “old vines”, but this description does not seem to do justice to vines that were planted in 1904, when Wilfrid Laurier was Canada’s Prime Minister and Theodore Roosevelt was US President. They are comfortably into their second century, producing small quantities of intensely flavoured grapes. Carignan forms 60% of the blend, with Grenache (30%) and Mourvedre (10%) making up the rest. About 60% of wine ages 8-12 months in French oak barrels with the remainder resting in cement tank.

La Damoiselle is soft, almost velvety, with dried strawberries and blackberries, stones and garrigue, and the faintest hint of black olive tapenade. Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years.