Chateau la Crabière Fronton Rouge 2005
Fronton is some 70km north of Toulouse in southwest France. The significant variety here is Négrette, a black grape that must comprise between 50% and 70% of the blend in any red or rosé wines made under this Appellation. In this instance, it is blended with Syrah and Cabernet Franc to give a supple, juicy red with a deceptively low ABV (12%vol).

This wine was one of Jonathan Ray’s ‘Wines of the week’ in the Telegraph ‘Weekend’ earlier this year. He observed “… this quirky (and none too alcoholic) red is full of violets, liquorice and spicy bitter cherry. Ideal with rich stews.”