Rouge 2024

Rouge 2024 by Matassa is a beautifully pure and vibrant expression of old-vine Carignan from the rugged hills around Calce in Roussillon, deep in the South of France. Made entirely from Carignan (with some vines believed to be over 100 years old) this is one of the wines that best captures Tom Lubbe’s talent for turning a traditionally powerful Mediterranean grape into something lifted, fresh and incredibly drinkable.

The vineyards are planted on limestone, schist and marl soils, heavily exposed to the fierce Tramontane winds that sweep through the region from the Pyrenees. These cooling influences help preserve acidity and energy in a climate otherwise known for rich, sun-heavy reds. The old bush vines naturally produce tiny yields, concentrating flavour whilst maintaining remarkable finesse.

For the 2024 vintage, the grapes were fully destemmed before fermentation with indigenous yeasts, bringing a more delicate and precise expression of Carignan compared to the whole-bunch approach used in some other Matassa wines. The wine is then aged across a mixture of concrete tanks, clay amphorae and large neutral old barrels, allowing texture and complexity to develop without heavy oak influence. As always at Matassa, the wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered and with minimal to no added sulphur.

Despite its light colour and bright profile, Rouge 2024 still carries a lovely rustic soul underneath the freshness. Expect crunchy red cherry, cranberry and wild raspberry fruit alongside dried herbs, black tea, cracked pepper and a subtle earthy spice. There’s gentle tannic grip, lively acidity and a savoury edge that makes it especially good at the table.

This is a wine that works brilliantly slightly chilled and opens beautifully with air. Perfect with roast vegetables, grilled lamb, hard cheeses or a proper French-style cheeseboard. Elegant, energetic and dangerously easy to drink.

How does Matassa Rouge 2022 taste?

We enjoyed a lot of mostly fruit-forward notes like blueberry, stewed apple alongside some mild herbal hints and subtle vanilla creamy vibes. This is a perfect Carignan!

Interview with Matassa winemaker Tom Lubbe

We caught up with winemaker Tom Lubbe to discuss the way he works his wines and his philosophy on a matter of topics. Check it out below and subscribe on Youtube for more winemaker videos like this.