7 Vaillants Rouge 2018
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
60% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache
A full-bodied French red. On the nose violet, black fruits with a graphite side. On the palate, beautiful tannic structure with freshness and density but without heaviness. Notes of blackberries, currants and leather.
'Les Equilibristes' means tightrope walkers, and it's that gravity-defying sense of balance that Florent and Francois aim to achieve. Francois de Monval is a merchant and restaurateur in Paris, Florent Girou is a wine-grower and consulting oenologist in the Dordogne. Together they work with creative, independent growers to do something outside of their comfort zone, by creating new blends or focusing on neglected varietals. It's a collaborative process, from choosing the site to final bottling.