Le Clot de L'Origine Soif de Plaisir 2016

Soif de Plaisir is a 50/50 blend of Carignan from 80-year-old vines in Calce and Syrah from younger vines, grown across Marc and Caroline Barriot's 10-hectare estate in Roussillon. The grapes are fermented as whole clusters using carbonic maceration with indigenous yeasts, then aged on fine lees for 10 to 12 months in large old-wood foudres before bottling unfined and unfiltered. Total SO2 at bottling is low, recorded at 32 mg/L for the 2016 vintage. The wine is classified as Vin de France, a label Barriot applies across his entire range.

The Carignan vines in Calce sit on black schist and mica-schist soils, which are typical of the Agly Valley around Maury. These soils are poor, well-drained, and force vines to root deeply, concentrating flavor and preserving natural acidity. Old-vine Carignan in this environment produces fruit with structure and tension rather than weight.

The 2016 shows a deep ruby color with fresh pepper on both nose and palate, backed by ripe red and dark fruit and a hint of cocoa and licorice. Carignan's naturally high acidity keeps the wine lively, while the Syrah rounds out the mid-palate with dark berry fruit and spice. Tannins are moderate and smoothed by lees contact.