At WineSiders.co, we like wines that speak with quiet confidence rather than shout with swagger. Brigitte Chevalier’s À la Venvole “Ébène” 2023 from Faugères does just that — it’s a whisper that commands attention, which is why it is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.
In the glass, the wine unfurls like a silk scarf showing a deep garnet with violet edges, a prelude to its understated elegance. The nose begins with black cherry and crushed blackberry, then veers toward graphite, wild thyme, and the faint smokiness of schist, a Faugères signature. There’s restraint here, the mark of someone who understands that power without precision is just noise.
On the palate, “Ébène” feels linear yet layered, cool, mineral-driven fruit wrapped in fine tannins that glide rather than grip. It’s Grenache-led but guided by Syrah’s darker sensibility, giving it both lift and depth. The finish lingers on a savory echo with black olive, cracked pepper, and something almost saline reminding you this wine was born of stone and sun, not cellar theatrics.
Brigitte Chevalier continues to make wines that redefine what finesse means in the Languedoc. “Ébène” is proof that Faugères, in the right hands, can rival the nuance of Northern Rhône and the texture of top-tier Roussillon, but with its own southern soul intact.
Drink now through 2030. Best with roast lamb, grilled duck breast, or a simple daube Provençale that lets the terroir do the talking.
WineSiders Score: 94
Having visited and tasted with Brigitte Chevalier in years past, her À la Venvole “Ébène” 2023 from Faugères is a masterclass in restraint as it is a sleek, mineral red balancing Grenache’s lift with Syrah’s depth. Elegant, structured, and soulful, it embodies southern France’s new voice: precise, pure, and quietly confident. A wine of texture, tension, and truth. That’s why it’s today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day!!
