Domaine La Providence ‘La Providence’VdF rouge 2021

What a lovely little discovery is Domaine La Providence, a new estate in the northwest corner of Provence from producers Jean Benoit and Bénédicte Comor. At only five years of production, this 2021 represents just their second release. Natural wines from Provence are really hard to come by, and this one makes a joyful argument for how good they can be. Predominantly Carignan planted in 1966, a variety we love, with 10% Cinsault blended in (for a touch of strawberries), the grape clusters were are left whole, then co-fermented in a 10-day carbonic maceration in tank without sulfur. Lest you think this is just a goofball bottling, the wine aged then aged in 500L demi-muids for two years before release. Notes of dried cranberry, black cherry, lifted garrigue-y wildflowers, with a touch of velvety tannin that’s softened because of the carbo treatment at ferment. Perfumed and wonderful to drink—we can’t wait to see what more this young domaine does with practice and further involvement in their vines.