Tam Tam by Edouard Laffitte

Edouard Laffitte acquired his experience vinifying at the Cave d’Estézargues before installing himself in small six hectare domaine in Lansac south of Maury and the Côtes du Roussillon Villages. The domaine is jokily called le Bout du Monde referring to the fact it is situated in the back of beyond (somewhere near the end of the world). The vineyards, scattered amongst various parcels, are situated between 150m and 400m on a terroir of schists and granites. The vines are cultivated organically without pesticides. You feel horses must be involved in the process somewhere. Harvests are carried out by hand whilst vinification is as natural as possible with carbonic maceration at low temperature. The wines are neither filtered nor fined.

Tam Tam is a cuvee from 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Grenache sur schistes. Like all his wines it is characterised by a lovely freshness with enough danger to remind you of the dramatic, almost desert landscape. If it is a gong, it is a gently vibrating one.