2016 Occi Vin Rouge Languedoc 750 ml

A 100-point Napa Cabernet proprietorer and a decorated Master of Wine headed to southern France to see what their combined talents and expertise could achieve in an under-$20 bottle of wine.

The result: Occi Vin Rouge—a full-bodied, irresistibly alluring red that’s chock full of brambly blackberry and plush boysenberry, with hints of five-spice and peppery smoked meat that conjure wines four times the price. Only winemaking genius of this caliber could deliver so much complexity for the cost of a movie ticket.

Occi is the brainchild of two very big brains: Patrice Breton, the Quebec native behind Napa’s opulent Vice Versa wines (which have earned 100-point scores from Wine Advocate), and Martin Reyes MW, who helms Sonoma’s well-received Peter Paul Wines and consults for Vice Versa and Spottswoode.

Martin is one of the smartest minds in wine today. We’ve been good friends with him since before he earned his Master of Wine title in 2018 and even before he was named one of the “Top 40 under 40 Tastemakers of America” by Wine Enthusiast in 2015.

Patrice approached Martin to help craft Occi as a Quebec market exclusive—a nod to his friends and family who can’t afford his $400+ Napa Cabernets. But the 2016 Vin Rouge turned out so delicious that Martin couldn’t resist tipping us off about this vintage the first chance he could get, and after twisting Patrice’s arm, Martin helped us secure exclusive American access to this expertly crafted wine.

Our endearing and eccentric MW pal spent years sourcing wines globally for the US market as a director for several national wine club programs (The New York Times, Williams-Sonoma, Food & Wine magazine to list a few), and fell in love with wines from the Languedoc region of southern France for what Wine Enthusiast refers to as its “magic mix of great value, history and fascinating herbal (garrigue) and fruity flavors.”

Of every region at his disposal, Martin knew the Languedoc would provide the ultimate source for both value and quality and, along with Patrice, launched Occi from there in 2014. Short for Occitanie, the region in France where the Languedoc is situated, the wine comes from three vineyards near Béziers, with a Syrah backbone that accounts for the wine’s tremendous, mouth-filling structure and savory spice notes.

The wines of Languedoc are experiencing a thrilling renaissance. Languedoc boasts some of France’s oldest vines, as well as the largest tradition of organic viticulture. Prestige winemakers from Bordeaux, the Rhône, and now Napa have been flocking there in recent years to capitalize on the creative potential and unmistakable terroir. Forbes recently reported, “The region is thriving with so many exciting wine producers you hardly know where to turn” before printing a follow-up article titled “Why Languedoc Has Your Next Best Wine.”

Great minds make great wine, especially when it’s from Languedoc. Simply an outstanding value for full-bodied red wine enthusiasts at $12.99, the 2016 Occi Vin Rouge is one to stock up on and enjoy now through 2026. But do it fast—once this is gone, you’ll have to head north to Quebec to see it again.