Alma Cersius Alicante Bouschet 2021

Description

An all too rare opportunity to try a single varietal Alicante Bouschet, from its homeland in south-west France.

Alicante Bouschet was a result of careful breeding of grapes in the mid 19th century, when botanist Henri Bouschet crossed the fruity Grenache with Petit Bouschet, another cross-breed created by his own father. The aim was very much for high colour, high fruit, with high yields for commercial appeal. However, Alicante is such an intense, high impact variety, it has been used for blending for much of its recent history.

Old vines in the optimal terroir of the Languedoc-Roussillon combined with modern winemaking have tamed this beast for a wonderfully drinkable, full-bodied wine. From 40 year old vines, the fruit was warm fermented for a few hours prior to clarification then micro-oxygenation, which stabilised the colour and softened the tannins.

Intense dark red in colour, there’s a complex nose of dark and dried fruits with subtle notes of tobacco, smoke, earth and dried meats. Sweet blackcurrant and black plum open on the palate, with a wonderful balance of acidity and tannins providing structure and length, loads of savoury earthy, herbal and spice notes unfurling on a long, full, immensely satisfying finish.