Navarre 2023 Vin D'Oeillades Rosé

Thierry Navarre is one of the few people who still grow Oeillades - a nearly extinct grape that has a long history in the Langudedoc and is thought to be a cousin of Cinsault. Thierry's Oeillades grows on the rugged mountainsides above Roquebrun in Saint-Chinian. The 2023 shows an intriguing light orange/pink tinged color in the glass. The nose offers subtle aromas of peach, raspberry, orange zest, spice and tea leaves.  The palate is light and wonderfully lifted with savory flavors of dried berries and red currant, very sapid , velvety and pure, with earth, red currant, herbal tea, and refreshing exotic citrus on the finish. This is an unusual and quite delicious rosé (with a bit of Ribeyrenc this year) with plenty of aromatic complexity and crunchy acidity to pair with a variety of dishes or to savor by itself - highly recommended! David Lillie