Beautiful red and blue fruit aromas with pink and purple flowers in the background. That prettiness is underscored by waxy or decaying meat. Rich, wet earth. A green stemmy character. Chocolate and coffee come to the fore. There’s some cola or sarsaparilla on the periphery.

Shapely and precise. The acid gathers the fruit and delivers it cleanly. Fine grain chalky tannin gathers on the tongue, they have a mineral, granite quality.

I always look to the southern Rhone when I need a bit of a ‘utility red’ that will please many palates, and this is that but tricked up with some sophistication.

Give it a quick decant, or just a slosh about in your glass. It will cellar well, drink it this side of 2030. 

Importer note:

From a cooler year, the balance between flesh and freshness offers prime-time appeal. This is crammed with both pure and seductive character; a deep aromatic profile led by red and blue fruit, peony florals and high-toned spice. Marked by signature Marcoux finesse, the palate is toned and textured and finishes long and fine with tapering chalky tannins adding to a structured finish. This is about as serious as you could expect of this AOC, a cracking baby Marcoux.