Bardi d'Alquier - Faugères Les Premières 2022

 

As for the reds, to preserve the fruit from this year’s heatwave, the extraction process was very gentle. You can taste it in *Les Premières*, the historic cuvée, with its juicy character, supple tannins, and vibrant finish.

Sophie and Thibaud Bardi de Fourtou took over this historic estate in Faugères in 2017. The wines we tasted for this issue are the last vestiges of the transition from Jean-Michel Alquier to the new owners. What is the couple’s goal? To preserve the estate’s signature style, whose vineyard is dominated by old Syrah vines from massal selections (among the first planted in Languedoc in the 1960s by Jean-Michel Alquier’s father, Gilbert) complemented by Mourvèdre and Grenache. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this new chapter.

A well-structured, flavorful, and appealing red wine with aromas of black cherries, toasted herbs, and a blend of spices. It is medium-bodied, with silky tannins and texture. It is full of vigor yet remains well-controlled, with an appealing texture and a flavorful finish of excellent length. Ready to drink now or for aging.

Floral, refined, and delicate, the 2022 Faugères Les Premières displays a youthful character that is both bold and well-mannered. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels and casks, it offers aromas of candied strawberry, wild strawberry, blackberry, and blueberry, as well as garrigue, elderflower, and a hint of balsamic, all set against a fresh, textured, and well-structured body with silky tannins. This is a concentrated wine that can be cellared a little longer but is already magnificent as it is. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2032.