2019 Henri Bonnaud, Palette Rouge

This is a fantastic full-bodied red wine made from a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Carignan. While the legendary Château Simone (Palette’s most famous producer) casts a long shadow, Stéphane Spitzglous has, since 2010, carved his own niche within the unique Palette AOC. Starting in a garage and adopting organic practices in 2013, he's transformed his estate into a Provençal darling. The tiny, historic Palette AOC, Provence's oldest appellation dating back to 1948, lies a short drive east of Aix-en-Provence. This unique microclimate, characterized by pine-clad hillsides at elevations between 500 and 750 feet and sheltered by the rocky massifs of Langesse, Cabri, and Cengle, produces wines of extraordinary finesse. Reds from this part of the sunny world tend to be bombastic, high in alcohol and with clunky tannins. That is not at all the case here and this versatile wine is great for just about any occasion.