We were making short ribs tonight and the braise called for red wine, so I used up half a bottle of a ‘kitchen rack’ country wine, but quite enjoyed the rest of the bottle with my spouse. So I’ll second the endorsement for Kermit Lynch import 2019 Domaine de Fontsainte [Corbieres] which is an earthy, brambly, fennelly blend of mostly carignan with the balance grenache and syrah. Some of the cepage gets wood, and the rest is in cement - the overall 14.5% abv blend is harmonious and suited for consumption when young. For my tastes, as this AOC gets older, sometimes there can be an unappealing leathery note. The wine is not overly fruity, but if one has been raised on this ilk of So. Rhone / Languedoc / Roussillon it’s in line for their flavor profile. Low tannin, balanced acid, and a delightful drink to go with heavily trimmed short ribs, fluffy polenta and blanched broccoli. B+ in my ledger.
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