Maxime Magnon Metisse

Métisse is a rosé field blend of grenache, cinsault & carignan produced from 80-year-old vines - the grenache & carignan are co-fermented and the cinsault is vinified by itself and then blended in. Fermentation is whole cluster, lasting 10-12 days and taking place in concrete before the wine is raised 6-8 months in used Burgundy barrels. No sulphur added at bottling.

Maxime Magnon is a genuine garagiste. Born in Burgundy and mentored by Jean Foillard, Maxime does not come from wine pedigree, but sought out and restored old-vine parcels in the brutal terrain of Haute Corbières. There's virtually zero topsoil covering hard schist & limestone, making it incredibly difficult to farm, and yet Maxime manages it all on his own. He is certified organic and incorporates biodynamic practices, allowing sheep to graze the vineyards in order to fertilize and control weeds. Oh yeah, and he rents a cellar carved into the rocky hillside - like I said, a genuine garagiste.

The wine is simply exquisite and thoroughly giving, a testament to the old vines, the terroir, and Magnon's dedication & hard work. The juice is slick, mineral and loaded with concentrated fruit. Ruby red in hue, Métisse could pass as a light red rather than the rosé designation it's given on technical sheets. I think Kermit Lynch described the winemaker and his product best: "Magnon’s style reminds me of Jean Foillard’s in Morgon. Magnon is the southern Foillard. The wine’s fruit is delicious, lovely and deep. It is not inky, alcoholic, or torturously tannic. There is a lot of wine in the wine, and every moment is created to please. You have an impression of little wild berries giving their all, and an incredibly silky texture."