Mas Coutelou Sauvé de la Citerne 2019

Sauvé de la Citerne is a red blend from Mas Coutelou, made from organically farmed Cinsault, Syrah, and Grenache grown around the village of Puimisson in the Hérault, just north of Béziers. The vines grow on predominantly clay-limestone soils in a Mediterranean climate moderated by sea breezes off the coast. The wine is classified as Vin de France, as Puimisson sits outside the boundaries of any named Languedoc appellation.

In the cellar, Jeff Coutelou works with spontaneous fermentation using only indigenous yeasts. The wine is not clarified or filtered, and no sulfites are added at any stage. Bottling is done by gravity. The result is a concentrated, fruit-driven red with herbal notes, lively acidity, and a savory finish.

Mas Coutelou has been certified organic since 1987, one of the earliest estates in the Hérault to receive that distinction. Jeff has progressively reduced the estate from 20 to 13 planted hectares, replacing parcels bordered by conventionally farmed neighbors with olive groves and hedgerows to protect biodiversity and soil health.