2020 Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La Cinso Cotes du Brian Cinsault Languedoc

Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot — Burgundy royalty — planted roots in Languedoc two decades ago, bringing Cote d'Or precision to the wild, sun-soaked hills above Carcassonne. Their estate in Cazelles sits at elevation, where cool nights off the Montagne Noir slow ripening and lock in freshness most southern reds abandon by harvest.

La Cinso is their love letter to Cinsault, a grape that spent a century in the shadows of Syrah and Grenache. Sixty-year-old vines rooted in limestone, clay, and marl at 220 to 260 meters — the kind of old-vine fruit that delivers depth without weight. They farm organically, harvest by hand, ferment on wild yeast, and age the wine twelve months in stainless steel to keep every ounce of the grape's silky, floral character intact.

The 2020 vintage pours a light ruby with bright reflections. The glass opens on redcurrant, raspberry, wildflowers, and a whisper of white pepper. The palate is silky and fresh, with soft tannins and a juicy, fruit-forward finish that drinks like a serious Pinot Noir from a warmer year.

If you drink Pinot Noir, this is the southern red I'd hand you first. Give it 20 minutes in the fridge, then pour it with charcuterie or grilled vegetables.