Eric Texier 'Chat Fou' Côtes du Rhône 2024

Eric Texier makes wine in the Rhône carefully, respectfully, but with zero interest in how things have "always" been done. He's originally from Bordeaux, but has been living around Lyon since 1979, quietly becoming one of the region's most important voices.

This wine is called Chat Fou. Crazy cat. Named after his actual, real-life weirdo cat, which should tell you everything you need to know about the energy here.

It's a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and a good splash of white grapes from the Ardèche (mostly Clairette), all farmed organically and handled with a light touch. Mostly destemmed, fermented with nothing but wild yeast, macerated for just a few days, then aged in concrete. No oak, no heavy extraction.

This is such a bright, savoury, and totally alive red. The crunchiest of the crunchiest. It smells like dried cherries, tobacco, a little bit of cured meat, and has this crisp, nervy acidity that makes it severly drinkable. Chill it slightly and open it with a plate of charcuterie, a bowl of olives (preferably the sun-dried black Moroccan ones), or just because you want something delicious and uncomplicated.

Playful, thoughtful, and completely itself. Much like the cat.