2023 Le Pujol Grenache VdP de l'Hérault, Boulevard Napoléon

• Style: Silky, vibrant Grenache
• Taste: Red-fruit purity, savoury snap, crackling acidity
• Food: Roasted duck, grilled lamb, beef & steak, charcuterie
• Occasion: Weeknight or Sunday lunch
• Serve: Slightly cool, 12–14°C

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Seventy-year-old bush vines on gravel and sandstone deliver vivid red-berry aromas, silky tannins, and crackling acidity that cuts through richness. Medium ruby in colour, this is immediately drinkable and built for the table—fresh, defined, and remarkably precise despite the 2023 vintage's challenging growing season of early-spring cool spells and late-summer heat.

The Winery — Boulevard Napoléon

Named after the street in La Livinière, Minervois, this is the partnership between restaurant owner Trevor Gulliver and winemaker Benjamin Darnault. Seeing potential in vineyards by his holiday home, Gulliver began making wines and impressed both his partner, chef Fergus Henderson, and ourselves. Each bottling captures classic varietal character from the dry, stony slopes of southern France while retaining a vibrancy and definition that stands apart. The grapes were fully destemmed before a deliberately brief maceration, then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and aged in large concrete vessels—a choice that preserves bright red-fruit character and prevents over-extraction. The result: silky rather than gripping tannins, singing acidity, and lingering length without heaviness.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve slightly cool alongside roasted duck, grilled lamb, beef & steak, charcuterie, or a cheese board. This is a textbook expression of what careful vineyard work and restrained winemaking achieve—a true varietal study reminding us why Grenache & Garnacha remains one of the finest expressions of warm-climate potential when yields stay low and picking windows are respected. Perfect for weeknight relaxation or Sunday lunch gatherings. Vegan and vegetarian-friendly. Discover more in our Full Bodied Red Wine selection and explore what else France has to offer in this compelling corner.