Producer: Château d’Oupia
Wine: Les Hérétiques
Vintage: 2004
Country: France
Appellation: Pays de l’Hérault
Wine Type: Red
Primary Varietal: Carignane
Grade: B
Designation: Good and Cheap
Price: $7

In 2001, Les Hérétiques, from André Iché of Château d’Oupia, was described by a few reviewers as “a little light in the loafers” – not a good thing for a Carignane overachiever growing 70-year-old vines. Swayed by this feedback, Iché performed a redo for 2002. Apparently, the guy keeps a stock of Syrah in vat for his better bottlings and decided to top off the Les Hérétiques assembly with 3 percent of this Syrah. What a difference a bit of Syrah makes! All signs point to a similar formula for 2004.

The earth and nice herbs lend layers to the black fruits. We sat down to a potato-leek soup dinner after we popped the heretical cork. This wine isn’t chewy, but you’ll know it’s there. Of course, we should have paired it with a lamb burger or rich pasta dish, but, hey, call me a heretic.

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