Escala Humana “Livvera” Bequignol 2020

“fresh herbs, cream soda and crushed violets”

If you’ve followed Crunchy Red Fruit or been a member of the Circle for even a short length of time, you’ve probably noticed that discovery is something we value deeply. I think that some of the most compelling wines with the best stories to tell are still waiting out there, so when we find them and are able to share them with you, it warms our hearts. That’s the whole reason we started. I’m going to keep saying it as long as there’s someone reading it here.

Enter Béquignol Noir, a strange grape that originates in southern France. While only 1 hectare remains in France, there’s more than 900 hectares planted in Argentina. It typically produces fresh and fruity wines, but this one has more going on. Like Malbec and Carmenère, Bequignol had more to offer the world in its new home than its old one. 

Escala Humana has placed their emphasis on wines that reflect a specific vineyard site, and this nearly-abandoned vineyard of Bequignol was a lofty challenge for Germán and his wife Ayé. What’s incredible about this site is that it’s able to coax some real texture and fruit from a grape variety that in almost every other place ends up insipid and thin. 

This Bequignol has brambly fruit with a slightly candied, licorice-like tone. There’s a fuschia tint to this wine that just invites you in for a big sip. On the palate you get fresh herbs, cream soda and crushed violets. We paired this with Pilar’s Lomito sandwich because frankly it’s the best wine in the box for it–refreshing and almost like a wine version of a fruit soda, which you might be served alongside this sandwich at an open-air market in Chile.