December's Wine of the Month- 2023 Domaine Rimbert, Pepe el Tinto.

When Jean-Marie Rimbert bought his vineyard in the small village of Berlou, located in Saint Chinian, back in 1996 it was the schist soil and steep slopes that drew him to the area. The combination is so unique for the Southern French region that they have their own AOC, Saint Chinian Villages Berlou. Rimbert is known for his Carignan and works with other like-minded vineyards for grape varieties he does not grow, like Syrah. The Negoce fruit for this wine was organically grown, hand harvested and was fermented with native yeast. The wine was fermented and rested in stainless steel tanks.

Pepe el Tinto's rich notes of blueberries and boysenberries, hints of blackberry fruit too. Very delicate white pepper flavors work with the light tannins to create a savory component that gives your palate a slight reprieve from the fruit. More blackberry and boysenberry fruit comes around on the finish. A wine like this is exactly what we’re looking for in our Wine of the Month. It’s Syrah, so a grape most people are familiar with. But it’s not your typical kind of Syrah, so while familiar, different enough to spark a conversation. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a wide variety of dishes.