#48 A Fer from Domaine Laurens

"100% Mansois. Deep and saturated purple color. Clear and direct aromas of crushed berries, sap, and wood smoke (not from oak barrels!). The wine is medium in body, and very smooth, with "sweet" flavors of brown spices and plum jam" reads the tasting notes. I am particularly attracted to the no oak part since the last bottle I had seemed to have been extracted from an oak tree.

"Marcillac is a tiny obscure appellation near Clairvaux in Aveyron comprising some eight growers. The wines here are made exclusively from the Mansois grape, otherwise known as Fer or Fer Servadou in Gaillac" reads the description.. compelling.

Sounds good! Lets see what Domaine Laurens has done here. This is an inky wine with a smoky nose.. neat. It's like a cabernet without the steroids, no fruit bomb here. Its dry, with subdued tannins and a finish that reintroduces you to that farmhouse smoke. This is one $12 bottle that will not go unfinished.