Mas Coutelou La Buvette à Paulette 2019

La Buvette à Paulette is a red blend of roughly equal parts Merlot, Mourvèdre, and Syrah grown on the clay-limestone soils around Puimisson, a village in the Hérault department a few kilometers north of Béziers. It is bottled as Vin de France, which gives Jeff Coutelou the flexibility to blend varieties outside the constraints of any single AOC. At 14.5% ABV, it carries the warmth typical of the southern Languedoc plains while staying grounded in earthy, savory character.

In the cellar, the wine is made with full commitment to non-intervention: spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts only, no fining, no filtration, and no added sulfites at any stage. The result is a wine that reads as both rustic and generous, with juicy dark fruit, black olive, garrigue spice, and soft but present tannins. Decanting for 30 minutes before serving allows it to open up fully.

The name is a nod to everyday drinking pleasure — a buvette being a small drinking spot or snack bar. This is not a cellar wine; it is made to be opened, poured, and enjoyed at the table with food.