When we first tasted Les Autochtones 2024 by Mas del Périé, we were utterly stunned from the very first sip! Juicy red and black fruits, a velvety texture, low alcohol (just 9.5%), and waves of freshness—it is the very definition of the kind of red summer wine you want to keep chilled in your fridge all season long.

The wines of Cahors were once known as “the black wines”, famed for the deep colour that Malbec delivered and for requiring considerable patience in the cellar. Fabien Jouves, born and raised in Cahors, set out to redefine the region’s identity, and in 2006 founded Mas del Périé. Through biodynamic farming, gentle extraction, the use of whole bunches, and minimal intervention in the cellar, his reds now have more in common with Burgundy and Beaujolais than with the powerful, rustic wines of the past. Clearly, Fabien Jouves is doing something remarkably right, as Decanter, Robert Parker, and Jancis Robinson have all sung his praises.

Although Fabien Jouves rose to prominence through his Malbec wines, Les Autochtones 2024 by Mas del Périé is something entirely different. It is a blend of local South-West French varieties—Jurançon Noir, Gibert, Valdiguié, and Noual—without a trace of Malbec. These grapes were planted experimentally by the producer, driven by a desire to create something truly unique. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically, with early hand-harvesting to preserve freshness and acidity, ideal for a light, “natural” winemaking approach. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts, with a portion of whole clusters included. The wine is then aged for 12 months in old 500-litre oak barrels and bottled unfiltered, with no further intervention.

Les Autochtones 2024 Mas del Périé may sound unusual, with its low alcohol and unfamiliar grape varieties, yet it proves that the greatest discoveries often lie off the beaten path. If you’ve grown tired of drinking what everyone else is drinking, this is one bottle you simply must not miss.