Les Volets Malbec

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Malbec,

Sourced from the lesser-known territory of Pays Cathare that surrounds the towns of Carcassonne and Limoux. The beautiful rugged environment with its argilo-calcaire sub strata is home to the AOP Languedoc and Limoux, but the vineyards do not stop with the AOP geographical limits and it is from these outskirts that we have sourced some exceptionally interesting wines. One of the great advantages of the region is the fact that it benefits from enviable geographic and climatic conditions: the warm Mediterranean sunshine is tempered by the altitude and by the cooler nights so characteristic of the foothills of the Pyrenees. These are ideal conditions allowing for the longer, slower ripening of the grapes, thereby providing a superb base for wines that offer intensity, complexity and finesse. The traditional "noble" grape varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have a natural affinity here in the Haute Vallee de l'Aude, as does the less-widespread Malbec (originally known in France as Cot). Malbec has a long-standing history in Languedoc and Corbieres where it is used knowingly in the delicate art of blending. We have decided not to blend, but to offer this Malbec as a stand alone, a wine to appreciate for its difference.

Vibrant ruby hues gleam out of the glass. The first notes on the nose are of crushed blueberries which then develop on to reveal an intriguing bitter-sweet character of creme de cassis with a touch of underlying parma violets. Fine red-fruits fill the mouth; cranberries and a touch of cocoa nib on the lifted finish.

Delicious with steak and meats from the grill. It works with seared tuna, too.