Jean-Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge, Mary Taylor Wines, 2020

Neither glitzy nor flashy, but perfectly embodies the region’s rural soul. A signature blend of 50% Merlot with equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, possesses much of the dark-fruited complexity that made Bordeaux famous in the first place – but rendered in a brighter, more refreshing frame.

This “alternative” Bordeaux is populated by the small independent estates that line the banks of the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers, where conscientious growers craft honest bottles for everyday enjoyment rather than 100 point scores. This is the Bordeaux to which winemaker Jean Marc Barthez belongs. The archetypal “dirt-under-the-fingernails” winemaker, he serves as the president of a small co-operative winery in Monségur, an ancient village founded by Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 13th century. There, he oversees a handful of growers who cultivate small family vineyards - many certified organic - and join forces to produce Bordeaux wines that their friends and neighbours can actually afford. 2018 was a warm, sunny vintage with a hot and dry September. This red has wonderful “drinkability” aided by the absence of oak during the ageing

Country: France 

Region: Bordeaux

Vintage: 2020

Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc 

ABV: 13%

Size: 750ml 

Producer:  Jean-Marc Barthez, Mary Taylor