Chateau Terre Forte Rouge 2020

The Terre Forte 2020 Rouge! is an explosion of energy that has founds its way into a bottling of Southern Rhone red wine. A hand-harvest of mostly Grenache (along with some Syrah and Mourvèdre) coming from limestone rich clay soils and galet stones that range from half-dollar size to a football, the grapes are de-stemmed and placed into stainless steel vats for a natural co-fermentation all together. After a few months, the wine sees a tiny amount of SO2 before bottling in accordance with the lunar cycle, and sent off to market for a bright and expressive version of Cotes du Rhone. Brambly, yet juicy berry fruit, comes across immediately on the nose, with scents of peppercorn, clove, eucalyptus, and iron. In the mouth, there is a grip of tannin that is quickly balanced by a flush of ripe red fruit, bright acidity, and a lightly spiced savory finish that lingers for a long time.