(2024) From the Haut Vallée de l'Aude, an IGP appellation around Limoux in the Languedoc. This is made by Burgundy-born Oliver Lemstra and is aged in both tank and new French oak barrels for eight months. The oak comes from the forest of Bertrange on the right bank of the River Loire, due west of Dijon. It's a powerful wine with its 14.5% alcohol, but there's a translucent rim to the garnet colour, and aromas do encompass spice and floral notes as well as red fruits. In the mouth that sweetness of ripe fruit comes through, cherry and bramble to the fore, a hint of the tobacco spiciness again and quite a dry tannic background. Acid is well balanced in a wine that retains some elegance despite the rather high alcohol.