Chateau Bouissel Fronton Classique 2010

North of the beautiful city of Toulouse in the region of Fronton, grow vines of Négrette -a unique variety carried back to France by the crusaders who were taken by the wines while stationed on Cyprus where it was known as Mavro, meaning black. This dark little grape lends a little spice all its own as well as fragrant floral high notes to a deep southwestern blend with 50% Négrette, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec. Together they flex with spicy rusticity, dark berries and plums -it's built like a seasoned crusader, strong and sinuous and you never feel you can pin this wine down. Lavender and violet floral high notes give way to flavors of distinct blueberry and cassis. Why haven't you heard more of this Negrette based blend? 90% is consumed locally in Toulouse. A lot gets drunk up with cassoulet and the other culinary delights of the southwest.

The vines of Château Bouissel are planted on the 3rd terrace of the Tarn river. The 45 hectares of the estate are gravelly soils, which is not common in the AOC Fronton. Aged 18 months in oak, 1/3 of which is new, this current release of 2010 is deftly matured and sure to drink well for years to come. In a worldwide wine market up to its eyes in familiar grapes, varieties like Négrette are a welcomed discovery and Château Bouissel the leader in Fronton.
Wine review by Nicholas Livingston, July 9th 2014 (Flower)