Nicolas Carmarans Maximus 2023

Grape: Fer Servadou
Vintage: 2023
Type: Red

This red wine is a pure expression of fer servadou grown on the steep rugged terraces of the remote Aveyron region. Winemaker Nicolas Carmarans manages the old vines manually across a patchwork of granitic schist, clay, and limestone. The winemaking involves a gentle, one-week whole-bunch carbonic maceration inside concrete vats to prioritize high-toned aromatics over harsh seed bitters. The wine matures naturally in old neutral French oak barriques and is bottled entirely without added sulfur.

It pours a translucent ruby color, opening with aromas of tart cranberry, sour cherry, and crushed violet petals. A light-to-medium-bodied frame pairs crunchy fruit flavors with an assertive dash of cracked black pepper. A crystalline current of cool-mountain acidity cuts directly through the mouthfeel, keeping the texture fluid and weightless. A subtle, rustic grip of fine-grained tannin provides an understated framework across the mid-palate. It finishes completely bone-dry, leaving a trail of graphite.