Marcillac “Lo Sang del Païs”, Domaine du Cros - 2023

One of the great joys of wine is that there's always something new to discover, whether it's a grape variety, winemaker, region or history. Marcillac is a treasure trove for all of the above. A remote region in southwest France, it looks like it's on the road to nowhere. In fact, it's on the route to Santiago de Compostela and became a prime spot for grape growing in the middle ages. Sadly Phylloxera destroyed most of the vineyards in the 1800s, and it never really recovered. Philippe Teulier and his son have been trying to brink it back, but it is remote, they grow one red grape (Mansois), on steep terraces, so their struggle is nothing short of heroic. Hats off to them, this is one fine wine. Chock full of black pepper, cherries, blackberries and a ferrous minerality, this is what I want alongside steak frites or a thick burger.