14.5% abv, Hilhavet, imported by BBR Imports, Inc., Houston, TX. Cork closure: diam composite. Biodynamic calendar: root day.
Domaine Gayrard is a member of the Independent Vignerons association and produces organic wines from the Gaillac appellation near Toulouse in the Tarn department of SouthWest of France. The Braucol grape variety is also known is some circles as Fer Servadou, Mansoi and/or Pinenc. In Gaillac the vineyards straddle the Tarn River and feature limestone soils with clay, sand and gravels not so different than what one would find on the right bank of Bordeaux. “Very close to Cordes sur Ciel, on the northern edge of the Gaillac appellation,” the family says, “our Domaine has been established for nearly 5 centuries on an exceptional terroir on the edge of the Causses, land of oaks, stones and truffles”. The wines are farmed organically, hand harvested, and fermented with natural yeast. The cuvée Braucol is punched down in cement vat and aged for 9 month before bottling.
According to the Wine Scholar Guild, Fer Servadou is a “mid-to-late ripening grape and is similar in taste and structure to Cabernet Franc. It is believed to have originated in the Basque Country of Spain as a domesticated wild grape.”
Tasting note: The wine is medium garnet in color with a clean nose of medium+ intensity with aromas of rose petal, died flowers, potpourri, strawberry, raspberry and cassis liqueur. On the palate this wine is dry with medium+ acid, medium tannins, medium+ alcohol, medium+ body, medium+ flavor intensity and with a medium finish with flavors of tart cranberry, sour cherry, licorice, leather, cinnamon, clove and myrtle berries. This is a youthful style of red wine with no secondary development prior to bottling, drink now or through 2025. This wine is quite good: 8.8/10.