Juicy, fresh and medium-light, this has blackberry and blackcurrant at its core, with green pepper, fennel, liquorice and a distinctly savoury, iron-like edge running underneath. Braucol brings the bright, crunchy fruit, while Côt adds darker fruit and a bit of firm structure. It’s generous without becoming heavy, basically crying out for sausages, slow-cooked beans, roast meat or, unsurprisingly, a giant bowl of cassoulet. Famille Arbeau have been making wine in South West France since 1878, with siblings Anne and Géraud now representing the fourth generation. They work with the overlooked local grapes of Fronton and the surrounding region, keeping the cellar work deliberately uncomplicated and letting varieties like Braucol do something a little more interesting than the usual international suspects.
