Abbotts & Delaunay Boréas GSM 2015 Faugères, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 75cl

Abbotts & Delaunay was founded in 1996 by the Australian-born oenologist Nerida Abbotts, later carrying the Delaunay name too. The house made its reputation by matching each Languedoc terroir to the grape varieties that suit it best, working across the region’s many appellations with a winemaker’s eye for detail.

Boréas takes its name from the cold north wind that sweeps down over the schist hillsides of Faugères, one of the Languedoc’s finest red appellations. The wine brings together Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan grown on steep, stony slopes that can climb towards 350 metres. After fermentation the blend rests in French oak, softening the tannins and adding a gentle frame of spice.

The 2015 growing season was warm and generous across the southern Languedoc, ripening the fruit fully while the altitude of these vineyards held on to freshness and definition. It is a vintage that gave depth without heaviness.

Deep garnet in the glass, it opens with red and black berries and dark cherry, then unfolds notes of cocoa and warm southern spice. The palate is bold yet balanced, carried by ripe, fine-grained tannins and a savoury, lightly oaked finish that lingers. There is a genuine sense of place here, the garrigue-scented character of the hills coming through.

This is classic Faugères, a warming, characterful red for anyone who enjoys a Southern Rhône Grenache blend. It is at its best with slow-cooked lamb, a herb-crusted roast or a board of mature hard cheese, and has the structure to reward another few years in the cellar.