Le Raisin et L'Ange, Fable VDF Red, 2023

50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Gamay

The Ardêche in southern France has been a locus for many new natural vignerons over the last 10 or 15 years or so; it’s the swath of land due west of the northern part of the Rhône river valley, home to rolling hills, interesting valleys, good soils, and so on. Consistent and approachable producers Le Raisin et L’Ange, by Gilles Azzoni. This bottling of his called ‘Fable’ has notes of dark fruit, brambly, but very fresh and energetic, it’s just one of the more delicious natural red wines we know and suited to the sorts of rustic, pleasant meals you might hope to have seated at a French countryside table.