Aubert & Mathieu Palooza Rouge 2025, IGP Pays d’Oc, Languedoc

Aubert & Mathieu Palooza Rouge is a juicy, easy-drinking red from the Languedoc, made by school friends Anthony Aubert and Jean-Charles Mathieu. Bottled as IGP Pays d’Oc, it blends classic southern French grapes, Grenache and Syrah, sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards across the region. True to the house style, the winemaking uses moderate extraction and little or no oak, keeping the wine supple and fruit-driven rather than heavy.

The nose is full of ripe red berries, cherry and plum. On the palate it is supple and smooth, with a pleasant roundness, soft tannins and a subtle hint of spice towards the finish. It is the kind of red that is as happy on its own as it is at the table.

Serve at 14–16°C, or even slightly cooler in summer. It is a great match for charcuterie, burgers, pizza, pasta with tomato sauces, sausages, grilled meats and, as the makers suggest, duck à l’orange. Aubert & Mathieu Palooza Rouge is made for drinking now and is best enjoyed within two to three years of the vintage, while the fruit is at its freshest.

Aubert & Mathieu is a young Languedoc wine house founded in 2016 by two school friends, Anthony Aubert and Jean-Charles Mathieu. Anthony was already working in the wine trade and Jean-Charles in corporate banking when they reconnected and decided to make wines their own way. Their first vintage was released in 2019 and quickly found fans in Paris restaurants. The pair source grapes from a range of terroirs across the Languedoc and aim for wines that are fresh, balanced and easy to understand, with moderate extraction and little oak influence. The house works sustainably, and a number of its wines are certified organic, all wrapped in bright, playful labels that reflect their fun, modern approach.