Nobody expected the Catalan Renaissance. It is a part of France where heat and drought make growing grapes difficult in the best of times, and growers constantly risk total crop loss when droughts last too long. Olivier Pithon grew up in the Loire in a family of winemakers and vine growers, but when he embarked upon his own career, he was drawn to the undeniable potential of this southernmost corner of France and the potential to farm organically. The Cotes Catalanes offers the holy grail of terroir, a substrate of rocky clay soil including schist, marl and limestone, with abundant sunshine and warmth tempered by the presence of nearby mountains and seas. When the weather cooperates, Olivier can make magic with this classic blend of equal parts Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah. The P’Tit Pithon is savory and spicy on the nose, with notes of fire roasted meat, elderberries, pie cherry and strawberry, stony soil and pressed wildflowers. The palate is richly textured, juicy and full of Mediterranean herbs, ripe red berries, all woven through with dusty tannins. Earth and lavender and berries linger on the finish. Serve with exotic burgers, roasted potato dishes, or wood-fired duck.