L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs, Catifea 2023

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Carignan, Aramon, Terret, Cinsault, Alicante Bouschet, Morastel, Noir de la Calmette, and many more
Style: Light Red /Dark Pink
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12%
Notes: A field blend of fruit from old vines from a single plot planted in 1912! Fresh, raspberry-like fruit with a gentle spritz upon opening. An incredible multi-faceted wine that changes and grows in complexity as you drink it.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Carignan, Cinsault, Aramon
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12%
Notes: Fruit comes from 3 old parcels planted in 1936 with soils rich in limestone and clay interspersed with yellow marl. This carries more lift that the 2023 Bunici, with a beautiful balance between mature dark fruit, floral aromatics, velvety tannin, and salty minerality.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Terret Gris & Blanc
Style: White / Orange
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 11.5%
Notes: Tom and Miha combined both varieties of terret in this vintage to make this lovely number. Bright yuzu and kumquat-like fruit notes, with a lovely saline quality, and a touch of sweetness on the finish… great as an aperitif!

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Chardonnay, Cinsault, Aramon
Style: White / Orange
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 11.5%
Notes: Peachy fruit from a 4-day maceration of chardonnay combined with some lovely darker stone fruit notes via the direct-pressed cinsault and aramon. This is fuller and riper than the 2023, greengages with some fresh zip at the finish.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Carignan, Cinsault, Aramon
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 11%
Notes: Fruit from a single parcel planted in 1936, macerated and aged on the lees in tanks. Bolder tannin, but still fruit-driven, with a touch of spice, a wild edge, and a herbal finish. A homage to the late Alain Castex, and made in vats that Tom and Miha inherited from him.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Carignan
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12.5%
Notes: The 2023 iteration of Catifea blends half whole bunches, and half destemmed carignan from Tom and Miha’s Tres Col plot. A southern wine with bold tannin, warming spice, a green stalky edge, and soft dark fruit on the finish.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Cinsault, Carignan and others
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 11.5%
Notes: From their oldest plot a co-plantation of predominintley cinsault and carignan but with lesser know red and white grapes too. Delicious, lifted fruit and aromatics. Possibly the most floral of the wines in 2021.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Cinsault
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12%
Notes: From their Tres Cols plot of vines the cinsault is macerated in whole bunches. This is perhaps the freshest of the wines displaying all of cinsault’s delicate aromatics and fine structure.

Producer:L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Carignan
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12%
Notes: Here the Carignan is macerated for about a week in whole bunches. It’s full of fresh zippy fruit, and some deep ripe warmth too.

Producer: L'Absurde Génie des Fleurs
Region: Hérault, France
Grapes: Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Carignan
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12%
Notes: One of the more ‘southern’ tasting cuvées in this vintage. A touch of warmth from the carignan and earthy spice from the mourvèdre; while the cinsault brings zippy fruit and freshness. This has a pronounced spritz on opening!