Muscat & Mourvèdre, Languedoc-Rousillon, France

Attention grabbing like Maryl Streep stepping into any room, M&M is perhaps the most-prized cuvée from this iconique south of France producer. Jean-Louis Pinto is a negociant (he purchases fruit rather than farming it) based near Limoux, sourcing organic and biodynamically tended grapes while working out of a small cellar beneath his family home. There is no set style that is applied year-to-year, but you are guaranteed to be surprised, delighted & infatuated with the produce of the Es d’Aqui cellar. The combination of being snatched from clay-limestone vineyards, and a cooler vintage really kept the juicy acidity flowing for this blend of tropical and mischievous muscat (70%) & brambly, gamey mourvèdre (30%). Scarlet in colour, viciously heady florals, raspberry-hibiscus concentrate, buffalo leather, rambutan cola, resinous spices, peach skin tannins & trapped CO2 to tickle your insides and make them giggle. Enjoy with anything rubbed in Chinese five spice.