Clos de l'Ours Le Chemin, Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre, Côtes de Provence, France, 2019

About the winery: Clos de l'Ours is a new winery (est. 2012) in the ancient wine region of Provence, where Romans cultivated the vine 3000 years ago. It's the retirement project of the Broton family, jewelers from Marseilles who sold their business to purchase the perfect terroir in Provence for growing grapes. The grapes are farmed biodynamically, using polyculture to prune and fertilize the vineyards. Clos de l'Ours is the poster-child of organic viticulture and exists at crossroads of well-invested, sophisticated winemaking philosophy and pure, organic agrarian winegrowing.

The chief oenologist, Daniel Abrial, is one of the most highly-regarded winemakers in the region (names like Tempier, La Bastide Blanche, and Domaine de la Tour de Bon). The wines achieved critical acclaim from their very first vintage, and are just now permeating the American market. 

About the wine: This red blend of roughly equal parts Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre evokes the spirit of the countryside of southern France. Only native varietals are cultivated (no Cabernet here). Bright, succulent wildberry is redolent with the aroma of lavender fields, rosemary and sage. The wine builds to an impressive weight before the stony minerality refreshes the palate to bright finish. Look for this name to make a large impact in years to come.