I have been waiting nearly two years for these wines. The last time I was able to acquire a few bottles of Les Foulards Rouges, I did so blindly. I brought them in strictly on word of mouth, having never tasted them before, which is something I rarely do. But my first taste was unforgettable, one of those revelatory wine moments. Never had I tasted wines from the Languedoc like this. The vibrancy, delicacy and detail in these wines grown in such an arid, blistering climate was incomprehensible and left me speechless. But that's the magic of Les Foulards Rouges.
Here, mere miles from the Mediterranean and the Spanish border, long-time friends Jean-François Nicq and Bijan Mohamadi make just a handful of some of the most thrilling and captivating wines in France. These are stunning displays of depth with purity and nuance; fresh and exhilarating new takes on an ancient terroir. |
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'Les Vilains' 2022 $34.99
A blend of Carignan and Grenache, 80 year-old vines grown on a single plot of granite and sand. The grapes ferment whole cluster for two weeks before rackied into used oak barrels to age until the spring. Everything is then hand-bottled for release, un-fined, unfiltered and without sulfur.
A dark, luscious nose of blackberries and blueberries with earthy, herbal thyme, rosemary and leather undertones. The palate overflows with more dark fruit and spice, yet with serious freshness and a touch of tannic grip. This is a classic chill-able red, delicious as an aperitif, but at home with all manner of grilled foods.
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'Les Glaneurs' 2022 $44.99
From a single hillside of Grenache planted in 1970. Here, the decomposed granite and lack of topsoil give this wine serious tension and nerve. Half of the grapes are de-stemmed, while the remainder is fermented whole-cluster. After blending and aging for six months in used barrels, the wine is bottled by hand, no fining, filtering, or sulfur.
Silky, supple and giving, this is a more classic take on Grenache from southern France. Lush and lively black cherries and currants on the nose, with a hint of cacao and peppercorn. The palate is firm, structured and full of dark cassis backed by plenty of body and soft tannins. A serious, layered and refined wine.
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'Frida' 2022 $49.99
A fascinating blend of three small parcels on one hillside, with Carignan and Grenache planted at the top, and Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc at the bottom. The vines all grow on a deep mix of sand and granite, with less top-soil found at the top of the hill. De-stemmed and co-fermented for three weeks, the wine is aged in used 500L barrels before bottling in the spring without fining, filtering or sulfur.
This is a wild, kaleidoscopic mix of ripe cherry, strawberry, blood orange and pink peppercorn. The freshness of the palate is matched only by the serious, layered and deep juicy flavors. Firm tannins and rocky minerals keep all the vibrancy perfectly in check. A succulent, magical wine full of verve and energy.
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Childhood friends Jean-François Nicq and Bijan Mohamadi settled in the southern-most tip of France in January 2001, after Jean-François had spent 12 years as a winemaker in the Rhône. With nothing but a mule and 9 hectares of vines, the pair set out with a simple goal: to make the purest wines possible. The farming is certified organic, the grapes are all hand-harvested, and the wines are always bottled by hand without fining, filtering, or added sulfur.
Today with more than 20 hectares of vines, Foulards Rouges is, to put it bluntly, the real deal. The wines are a testament to the pair's commitment and unwavering passion to make wines they love. |
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Les Foulards Rouges 3-Pack - $129.97
*SPECIAL NEWSLETTER PRICE - $119.97
To order, reply directly to this email or call me at 843.576.4845
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Justin Coleman
Proprietor
Monarch Wine Merchants |
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