Domaine Henri Milan 'Reynard Rebels' 2022

The story of the Milan family’s vineyards is all about soil: not just in the sense of pre-existing terroir—of natural harmony between grape variety, soil type, and climate—but also of hard work. When Henri and Véronique Milan took over from Henri’s father in 1984, they set out to restore the health of the soil through organic farming practices. Today, Henri’s son Théo and Théo’s wife, Nathalie, reap the benefits of decades of chemical-free farming, and their wines shine as a result. Théo and Nathalie have moved into biodynamics and permaculture to bolster the health and biodiversity of the site even further, while cover-cropping, along with the prevalence of blue clay soil, help retain water in a dry climate. Meanwhile, Henri’s other legacy has been to break free of the regulations of the Baux de Provence AOC; bottling their wines as “Vin de France” allows them to grow and combine the grape varieties that make sense for their taste and their particular vineyard sites. The “rebels” in the name of this cuvée, ‘Reynard Rebels’, refers to this rebellious spirit. A delicious mix of merlot and carignan, it aged for 12 months in cement tanks. With aromas of fall spices and fresh earth, it offers generous black cherry flavors, a harmonious texture, and subtle tannin. Biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.