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Nigrine is a tryst of Cabernet Franc and Malbec—massale selections sourced from Clos Rougeard and Clos Triguedina respectively—the balance is a combination of Négrette, Prunelart and Cot à Pied Rouge. The first rule of Nigrine: it looks and tastes nothing like what you may expect from the southwest's often rustic canon. We cannot state that strongly enough.
Again, this is a true field blend. In 2019 Emmanuel Bourguignon picked on freshness, looking to harness purity, delicacy and finesse, and wanting to “capture the freshness of the rocks”. In a region where many wines come in at a chewy 14-15%, this chimes in at a dainty 12.5% abv. Fermentation took place in concrete tank followed by eight to ten months aging in oak barrels from Domaine Dujac (aged between two and five years). Bourguignon explains that the choice of varieties, precise picking and rudimentary winemaking technique are, above all, geared towards drawing the most out of his limestone terroir. Even at this early stage, the evidence is compelling.
Silky and flavourful, with both refined depth and subtlety, this is a wine singing with personality. Natural energy plays out in shades of fruit and flowers, chalky tannin and smooth, balancing acidity with a hint of bloodiness on the finish pointing to its southwestern roots. By any measure it's a high-calibre French red of remarkable grace and finesse.