# La Folie Douce Les Crus Caramany (2022)

- **Producer:** Calmel & Joseph
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Carignan, Grenache, Syrah
- **Region:** Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €17
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, black fig, blackcurrant, vanilla, coconut, mocha, cacao, buttery notes, dried fig, truffle, peat, black pepper, licorice, laurel

## About this wine

La Folie Douce Les Crus Caramany 2022 is a red wine from the AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany in the Languedoc-Roussillon, France, produced by Calmel & Joseph. This wine is a blend of 35% Carignan, 35% Grenache, and 30% Syrah, reflecting the unique terroir of Caramany, known for its gneiss and granitic soils at an average altitude of 250 meters. Calmel & Joseph, a wine house established in 1995, specializes in sourcing high-potential terroirs through strong relationships with local growers, aiming to produce wines of freshness and elegance. The 2022 vintage is highlighted as a 'dazzling' year, with the high-altitude site contributing a distinctive structure and cellaring potential.

## Interesting facts

- The Caramany appellation's vineyards are planted on ancient gneiss and granite soils.
- The wine is co-fermented, with Syrah and Grenache blended during vatting before Carignan is added.
- Calmel & Joseph focuses on high-altitude terroirs to achieve freshness and elegance.
- The 2022 vintage is noted for its 'verticality,' suggesting excellent aging potential.

## Food pairing

The wine's full body, pronounced intensity, and high, smooth tannins are well-suited to rich, protein-heavy dishes. The tannins bind with the proteins in red meat, softening the wine and cleansing the palate. Flavors of dark fruit and subtle spice in the wine complement the savory notes of roasted meats and game.

## Wine making process

The winemaking for La Folie Douce Les Crus Caramany involves a thoughtful approach to blending and extraction. Syrah and Grenache are co-fermented, with Carignan added later, followed by a slow, gentle vatting for four weeks. Pumping over with air is employed for initial extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels, after which the wine is aged for 12 months in second-use barrels. This method aims to integrate flavors and preserve the purity of the fruit and terroir.