Red | Carignan | Languedoc-Roussillon

The Ruhlmann-Schutz family, already well known for their Alsatian wines, acquired the Château Valmont estate in Peyriac-de-Mer in 2016, seeking to build a Corbières counterpart to their generous collection of Alsace whites. The 30-hectare property sits in the maritime Corbières, close to the Bages lagoons and sandwiched between garrigue scrubland and pine forest, with clay-limestone soils that force vine roots deep underground for extra concentration. The estate has been in organic conversion since its acquisition and holds HVE Level 3 certification, the highest tier of France's environmental standard.

Estornel is made from 100% Carignan, a traditional Languedoc variety long used to give Corbières blends their structure and depth, here bottled alone to showcase it in its purest form. The old-vine Carignan planted on the estate benefits from the region's clay-limestone soils and near-constant coastal wind, which keeps the vines healthy and concentrates flavor in the fruit. Expect a deep, dark ruby color, aromas of black cherry, garrigue, and a touch of pepper, and a firm, structured palate with grippy tannins that soften into a long, savory finish.

The result is a rustic, characterful single-varietal Carignan, a grape too often relegated to blends, given its due from a family better known for their Alsatian roots.