Domaine de la Petit Odyssée 'Furie' Rouge, Haute-Garonne, Sud-Ouest, France 2020

Domaine de la Petit Odyssée Furie Rouge, Haute-Garonne, Sud-Ouest,  France 2020 

• Winemaker: Antoine Bernardin
  
• Farming: Biodynamic
  
• Variety: 52% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Abouriou
• Terroir: hilly landscapes where vineyards interlace with forests near the Garonne river
  
• Vinification: Hand-picking Merlot, Abouriou, and Cabernet Sauvignon, each grape undergoes a separate fermentation processes. Abouriou, prized for its deep color and richness it imparts to blends, undergoes a brief three-day maceration period with whole grapes, while Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon follow a meticulous three-week maceration. Following fermentation, the wines are blended and then matured for ten months in old barrels.
• Tasting Notes: dark, full-bodied wine, displaying an intense color and a bouquet of black cherry, and cranberry, accompanied by hints of iron, tamarind, and wet hay.

From our 2023 November Explore Like A Somm Bottle Club Notes:

Domaine de la Petit Odyssée Furie Rouge, Haute-Garonne, Sud-Ouest,  France 2020 

La Petite Odyssée represents winemaker Antoine Bernardin’s inaugural venture into crafting wines entirely on his own vineyards. Brought up amidst the vineyards of Sud-Ouest, or Southwest, France, Antoine's profound connection to his family’s Cognac estate inspired him to pursue oenology. He embarked on a global journey, working harvests and interning at wineries in diverse regions such as Sonoma, New Zealand, Australia, Bordeaux, and Alsace while honing his craft.
For his new chapter, Antoine returned to Sud-Ouest, just outside Toulouse in the Haute-Garonne. Unlike its renowned neighbor Bordeaux to the northwest or the high-production area of Languedoc to the southeast, this region remains relatively undiscovered to winelovers outside France. Here, amidst rugged, hilly landscapes where vineyards interlace with forests near the Garonne river, Antoine established his vineyard. Embracing organic and biodynamic practices from the outset, he cultivates Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, and the rare local grape variety, Abouriou, benefiting from the warm influence of the Mediterranean Ocean.

In the creation of Rouge Furie, Antoine employs natural winemaking techniques steeped in tradition and reverence for the land. Hand-picking Merlot, Abouriou, and Cabernet Sauvignon, each grape undergoes a separate fermentation processes. Abouriou, prized for its deep color and richness it imparts to blends, undergoes a brief three-day maceration period with whole grapes, while Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon follow a meticulous three-week maceration. Following fermentation, the wines are blended and then matured for ten months in old barrels. Rouge Furie unfurls as a dark, full-bodied wine, displaying an intense color and a bouquet of black cherry, and cranberry, accompanied by hints of iron, tamarind, and wet hay. Delicate floral notes emerge after a few minutes of aeration, entwined with savory herbs and black pepper. The palate is robust, earthy, and juicy, making it a fantastic wine for the holiday table! —Cara Patricia