Les Vignes de l'Arque Rouge de Plaisir 2019 IGP Pays des Cévennes (50cl)

Made from 100% late harvested Grenache grapes, 40% of which are fermented and age in oak barrels. The grapes are super-ripe, with a potential alcohol level somewhat higher than 15%, but the fermentation stops before all of the sugar content turns to alcohol, resulting in a luscious, ripe, semi-sweet red wine of great depth and complexity. The nose displays all manner of red and black summer fruit aromas, with further notes of forest floor, orange peel, garrigue herbs and fine eau de vie. And because this is a naturally sweet (rather than fortified) wine, it is beautifully balanced and almost fresh, with those red summer fruits to the fore, again with myriad secondary fruit/herb/tertiary notes. Rich, ripe tannins combine with a layer of juicy, cherry kernel and soft citrus acidity, making for a wonderfully sweet-sour wine, which just keeps you coming back for another sip. The grower suggests this as an aperitif (and I can sort of see why, as it certainly gets the saliva flowing) though in my opinion it is better suited to a multitude of foods (see above) or as an after dinner wine. Either way, it is utterly wonderful and hedonistic stuff!