2021 Coterie by Wildeberg Cabernet Franc Malbec
Regular price £12.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand-harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 20 months before blending and bottling.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards for 2021 Vintage
- Bronze - 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards
- Silver - 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 67% Cabernet Franc, 33% Malbec |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
14.5% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes. |
Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
2021 Coterie by Wildeberg Chenin Blanc Grenache Blanc
Regular price £12.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. Chenin and Grenache Blanc complement each other well. Both varietals love the Coastal Region’s arid soils and Mediterranean climate due to their inherent tolerance to drought. Both components were naturally fermented in 600 litre French oak barrels. The Chenin is from an old, low-yielding Franschhoek vineyard planted in 1962 (65%). This brings freshness and tightness to the blend, the old vines also bring Wildeberg’s hallmark texture. The Grenache Blanc is from vibrant, younger plantings Paarl (35%), adding body and structure with this cultivars naturally exotic notes of jasmine and white spice. 65% 2nd fill and 35% 3rd fill barrels.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards
- Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2022 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 65% Chenin Blanc, 35% Grenache Blanc |
Country | South Africa |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% ABV |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Food Matches | This is a rich, textural wine whose body and exotic jasmine notes would ably marry with gentle Malay and Thai green fish curries, dishes with lemongrass and coriander, or just simply braai-ed linefish |
Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
2019 Caravinserail 'Cascavel' Luberon Monts et Vertige Ventoux Rouge
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep ruby red color.
Nose
The nose is dominated by fresh black fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), with notes of undergrowth, delicately spicy, finishing with mineral notes.
Mouth
The palate is tense, with a dominant fruity (cherry) and a finish of sweet spices (licorice).
Background
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Carignan, Grenache, Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2021 - 2025 |
Food & Serving Information |
Delicious with red meat in a sauce, stew of boar, deer, duck breast. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved, mostly Organic |
Origin | Rhône, Ventoux |
Appellation | AOC Ventoux |
2021 Viña Almirante Caiño Blanco, Rias Baixas
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A rare bird in its geographical area. A white caíño from La Capellanía de San Juan estate. A personal labour, full of character, from a plot that belonged to the Count of Canillas and later the priest of San José. A vineyard with a history that gives us just a few kilos of grapes every year.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Yellow with greenish glints, dense, voluptuous.
Nose
Complex nose with ripe fruit aromas, intense apricot and peach tones as well as acid, fleshy fruits, but retaining prominent floral tones and natural fragrances.
Palate
Dense, enveloping, fragrant, with plenty of breadth in the mouth and a lingering aftertaste. Its crispness and moderate acidity give it a rich-tasting process and a long finish.
History from the Producer
In the year 2000, a group of wine growers dreamed up what is today Viña Almirante, a winery made up of 80 partners and families who live by and for wine. We were inspired by the historic past of Portas (Galicia / Spain) and the legacy of geographer Domingo Fontán, an illustrious local figure who helped us to realise that on the basis of emotional cartography, we could make outrageously personal wines.
When going out into the world was not a priority, we made it one. Today we have a presence in more than 20 countries. It excites us to think that at any time, somewhere in the world, our wines are a part of someone’s life. Nothing motivates us more.
On the basis of exploration we have understood our region and our vines. We have always believed in the distinctiveness of our terroir, in nature and in the meaning of hard work. Every day in the vineyard is an opportunity to try to improve the next harvest.
We’re in A Peroxa (Portas), in the Umia Valley, beside the river Chaín. A place with its very own geographical and meteorological conditions, which largely determine the character of our vineyards. We also have a small percentage of vines in the heart of the Val do Salnés, giving us lots of possibilities to work with to make highly personal wines.
We don’t have a magic formula like that brand you’re thinking of, just hard work, exploration, analysis and confidence in the 45 hectares of vineyards we have dotted about the whole area. Every year is an adventure, a challenge packed with uncertainty, effort and one sure thing: that no two harvests are the same, and that inspires us.
Portas is synonymous with history, origins and culture. That of Galicia, and that of our local ancestors. History tells that in the 12th century, King Ferdinand II of León gave the Cistercian monks the first plantation of albariño grapevines on record, the Paradisus estate in Santa María de Portas.
In the bronze age, the land we work today was the home of the Gallaecian Cileni, and much later it was the home of different lineages of illustrious figures. Traits of its identity remain alive in the form of stone, monuments and memories. We appreciate our present while admiring our past.
Vinification
Must obtained by direct drawing through gentle pressings. Grapes from the Capellanía de San Juan estate in Portas (Val do Salnés). Identity, strength and expression. Aged for 12 months in vat, 3 months in bottle. Wine with a long evolution and excellent ageing. Destemming, gentle pneumatic pressing, static racking by cold decanting. Fermentation in stainless steel vats at 17ºC.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"At first I was a bit dubious about this one - at £15 a bottle and a slightly questionable label I was concerned about its ability to follow through. However, it’s a stonker - the most obvious character it has breadth of flavour - a real broad appeal with lovely stone fruit flavours, delicious acidity and a real complexity, all with no oak involvement. Absolutely delicious from a relatively unknown grape variety - Caino Blanco." Tasted December 2023
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Caiño Blanco |
Country | Spain |
Alcohol content | 12% |
Units of Alcohol |
9 units
|
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | Enjoy with Thai Food, Cajun Food, Sushi, Ceviche, Soft chesses (like Chèvre, feta, cotija, burrata and brie) as well as fish, seafood, chicken and tofu dishes. |
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
Region | Rias Baixes |
Appellation | Rías Baixas |
2022 Paolo Leo Mora Mora Malvasia Nera
Regular price £12.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Full-bodied and well balanced, with a lively tannin and a pleasantly lingering finish of ripe red fruits.
Malvasia nera is one of the oldest indigenous grape varieties in Puglia and it is likely that it arrived in southern Italy starting from the Dalmatian coasts beyond the Adriatic Sea. The aromatic black grape variety, is distinguished by a high sugar concentration and the almost total absence of tannin in the skins, a characteristic that makes it unique and unexpected especially when sipped even slightly cool in the sunny Salento summers.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Mora Mora is presented in the glass with a beautiful intense ruby red color.
Nose
On the nose, it offers small red fruits such as blackberries and mulberries in full ripeness. Then there are hints of dried plums and sweet spices such as cinnamon and cloves that give an enveloping tertiary perception.
Palate
In the mouth, it is warm, juicy, fresh with a slightly hinted acidity. Final with a very light sweetish aftertaste given by the typical fruit of black malvasia.
Vinification
The harvest is carried out in the second decade of September with a manual harvest of the grapes completed in the early hours of the morning, in the coolest hours of the day. After harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and the crushed grapes ferments in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 22-24 ° C for 8-10 days. The must is subjected to various pumping over and delestage that offer a technological extraction of color and tannins. Subsequently the wine is drawn off in a soft press. After the first racking, again in stainless steel, the malolactic fermentation takes place. Finally, the wine finishes its maturation for 3 months in second and third passage French oak barriques and is already ready to be drunk very young.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Malvasia Nera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14.5% |
Units of Alcohol |
10.9 units
|
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
The aromaticity of the Black Malvasia di Moramora combines with slow cooking ragù. The best embers of meat enhance the structure of the wine. Combined with cold cuts and cheeses it becomes a great company guest.
|
Cellaring Potential | 10-15 years |
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
Region | Puglia |
Appellation | IGP Salento |
2021 Elicio Grenache Syrah Rosé
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A favorite! Light, fruity, and not too sweet
Tasting Notes
Creamy flowers and fresh red raspberries, like a spring smoothie
Eagerly fruit forward and delightfully tart, with a host of fresh berries welcoming you to summertime
A bright pink color and a nose packed with fresh red fruit notes – strawberry – for this wine, whose palate confirms the aromas revealed by the creamy nose. Very fruit forward, this extremely good value wine can be enjoyed with your everyday meals or by itself.
History
Popular year-round for its easy Provençal style, Elicio Rosé epitomizes the effortless but always compelling nature of truly great rosé. Its bright pink color and nose packed with fresh raspberry and heady flowers lead to a juicy palate that echoes the aromas revealed by the vibrant nose, then throws in tropical and mineral notes to ride out the finish with you. Perfect with charcuterie, seared tuna, bouillabaisse, and Thai noodle dishes.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 80% Grenache & 20%Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5 % abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Rosé Wine |
Aging | 5 months in stainless steel tank |
Dietary Information | Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food matching |
Enjoy with friends, of course, but you're looking for some quiet solitude for a few hours, lay down a blanket in the grass and take a peaceful break from the madness. Or with slow cooker maple jalapeno pulled pork tacos. |
Appellation | Rhône Valley |
2022 Finca Ambrosia Casa Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £15.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%It is a lively and easy-going red wine, with fine-grained tannins that give it a smooth mouthfeel.
4,800 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
The Casa Cabernet Sauvignon is lively and easy-going on the palate, with fine-grained tannins that give it a smooth mouthfeel. It delivers aromas of delicious juicy red and black fruit notes and an underlayer of grilled green pepper. It offers a clean fruit profile and bright acidity, making it an approachable and enjoyable unoaked red wine for any occasion.
Vintage
2022 was a long and dry growing season of outstanding quality. Veering on the cooler side of average temperatures, yields were still plentiful, and grapes achieved ideal ripeness throughout a very long cycle. Rainfall was limited, but abundant glacial water and sporadic showers were timed perfectly to help the vine’s balance. After cooler autumn and ideal growing conditions in February and March, we were able to produce wines with remarkable quality.
History
It was the year 2002 when a group of friends decided to invest in Argentina. They knew little about wine production, but all were passionate wine lovers and excited about the vision of bringing Argentine wines to the world stage. They bought the land that would become Finca Ambrosia and set about turning their idea into reality. At this time, the Gualtallary district began to attract the interest of wine producers, primarily because of its outstanding soil and climate characteristics. Encouraged by the positive forecasts, the friends bought 3 more plots over the years, from which the current winery emerged. Today, Gualtallary is considered the best terroir for producing premium wines in the province of Mendoza.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
Country | Argentina |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Aging | Concrete vats |
Dietary Information | Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Gualtallary, Uco Valley |
Appellation | Mendoza |
2022 Finca Ambrosia Casa Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%It is an expressive dry white wine with crisp acidity and great varietal typicity that are evident in every sip
6159 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc is an expressive dry white wine with crisp acidity and great varietal typicity that are evident in every sip. Its clean fruit flavours of tropical mango and pineapple are not overpowering but instead complemented by moderate herbaceous undertones, making for a round and refreshing palate.
Vintage
2022 was a long and dry growing season of outstanding quality. Veering on the cooler side of average temperatures, yields were still plentiful, and grapes achieved ideal ripeness throughout a very long cycle. Rainfall was limited, but abundant glacial water and sporadic showers were timed perfectly to help the vine’s balance. After cooler autumn and ideal growing conditions in February and March, we were able to produce wines with remarkable quality.
History
It was the year 2002 when a group of friends decided to invest in Argentina. They knew little about wine production, but all were passionate wine lovers and excited about the vision of bringing Argentine wines to the world stage. They bought the land that would become Finca Ambrosia and set about turning their idea into reality. At this time, the Gualtallary district began to attract the interest of wine producers, primarily because of its outstanding soil and climate characteristics. Encouraged by the positive forecasts, the friends bought 3 more plots over the years, from which the current winery emerged. Today, Gualtallary is considered the best terroir for producing premium wines in the province of Mendoza.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Argentina |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Dietary Information | Organic, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Gualtallary, Uco Valley |
Appellation | Mendoza |
2023 Tiki Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury
Regular price £14.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Colour
A delicate, pale green/gold.
Nose
Passionfruit driven on the nose, this wine presents with soft acidity across the palate, showing tropical notes of lemongrass and grassy flavours.
Palate
A rich and complex wine with a lovely balanced finish, range of flavour and length.
Vintage
The La Niña weather pattern was the dominating influence of our 2023 growing season, which brought less hot North-westerly winds, normally a mainstay of our season, and replaced them with regular cooling Easterly winds. The start to spring was cool with temperatures below average. Despite that, as the season progressed, temperatures picked up and we experienced good flowering conditions, resulting in a healthy and balanced crop. Summer saw us experience 30+ degree days mixed in with considerably colder spells. Over Autumn we experienced more of the same, with temperatures fluctuating between spells of beautiful warm sunny days, followed regularly by cold southerlies.
These weather patterns, while presenting a challenge, meant the team started picking later allowing for sugar levels to rise. Minimal rain over this time meant the fruit could be held on the vine allowing it to reach our desired levels of ripeness.
Winemaking
The fruit was harvested at maximum flavour as assessed through frequent tasting in the vineyard by the winemaker. We picked across the vineyard at different times and degrees of ripeness to allow the individual cuvees a range of site expression. Extended skin contact time was used prior to crushing to enhance extraction of the aromatic compounds. The fruit was then very gently pressed to avoid harsh phenolic extraction and the juice allowed to cold settle. The clear juice was fermented at low temperatures using a range of yeast renowned for their ability to enhance the Sauvignon Blanc aromas. A balanced amount of residual sugar was left in the wine to complement the acidity and to add palate weight and structure.
Awards & Accolades
- 17/20 Jancis Robinson
- 5 Stars (94 points) | Sam Kim Wine Orbit
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | New Zealand |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.38 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
2023-2025 – will continue to develop for a further 5 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Fresh grilled fish like calamari or swordfish, this wine is lovely with salmon flavoured with dill and recipes that include fresh herbs like basil, coriander, rocket and mint. |
Appellation | Waipara Valley, North Canterbury |
2022 Maui Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury
Regular price £13.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Colour
A delicate, pale green/gold
Nose
Aromatically an intense wine showing classic Sauvignon Blanc aromas of gooseberry, nettle and dried herbs and minerality with an underlying citrus background.
Palate
Flavours of tropical fruit and herbal notes have been derived from the careful selection of various areas of our best blocks in the Waiata Vineyard situated in the Waipara Valley. The full flavours and tight structure of the palate reflect the intrinsic qualities of the Waipara Valley vineyard. The wine has been made with a moderate acidity level to complement the flavours and provide balance without dominating. A small amount of residual sugar enhances body and balance in what is a generous and complex wine.
Vintage
The 2022 Vintage in Waipara, North Canterbury was notable for the changeable weather, as was the case throughout several of the wine regions around New Zealand. On par with previous years, we did see a higher-than-average number of small rain events towards the end of the growing season. This year’s fruit has produced a flavoursome wine synonymous with our Maui Sauvignon Blanc.
Winemaking
The fruit was harvested at maximum flavour as assessed through frequent tasting in the vineyard by the winemaker. It was very gently pressed to avoid harsh phenolic extraction and the juice allowed to cold settle. The clear juice was fermented at low temperatures using a range of yeast renowned for their ability to enhance the Sauvignon Blanc aromas. A balanced amount of residual sugar was left in the wine to complement the acidity and add palate weight and structure.
Awards & Accolades
- 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson
- 5 Stars Sam Kim | Wine Orbit 2022
- 90 points Silver - IWC 2023
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | New Zealand |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2022/2024 - will continue to develop for a further 5 years. |
Appellation | Waipara Valley, North Canterbury |
2022 Domaine de la Combe Muscadet Suer Lie Sevre et Maine
Regular price £12.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Crisp, flinty notes with a hint of yeasty lees on the nose. The palate is fresh and savoury with the breadth of a warmer vintage and a ripe, almost tropical (starfruit?), character to the fruit. A lovely Muscadet.
Production Method
The vineyard lies on one of the best sites in Nantais at Saint-Fiâcre. Here the soils are layered with orthogneiss, a cracked, mineral-rich rock through which the vine roots weave and nourish the vine. Made traditionally at this small estate, the grapes were hand-picked, lightly pressed to retain their delicacy and purity of flavour, and fermented at cool temperatures to preserve their aromas. The wine was left on its fine lees until the following spring to add complexity and extra richness.
Producer
Domaine de la Combe (formerly Domaine les Grands Presbytères) in the village of Saint-Fiâcre, is nestled in the cradle of the Muscadet appellation between the two rivers of Sèvre and Maine. The slopes of these river valleys give the vines unique exposure. After centuries of erosion they grow on a terroir of schist, gneiss and mineral rich orthogneiss, a soil composition that means Saint-Fiâcre is considered one of the best sites for Muscadet Sèvre et Maine.
Wines are made from vines of different ages. The oldest were planted in 1950s - a rarity in an area where most are dug up after 40 years - whilst the most recent plantings date from 2016. Not only are new vines being planted when necessary, but the planting density is being increased from 7,000 to 7,700 vines per hectare to force the roots deeper into the rocky soils.
After working in vineyards across the world, Pierre-Henri Gadais returned to his family's domaine in 2016 to take over from his father, Christophe, who had taken it over from the previous owner - Nelly Marzelleau - in 2009. Passionate about the expression of terroir and protecting the environment, Pierre-Henri is in the process of converting the vineyard to fully organic viticulture, aiming for full certification by 2021.
A note on Sustainability
Since 2018, the domaine has been in conversion to fully organic farming and is scheduled for formal ECOCERT certification in 2021. Furthermore, vats are cleaned without the use of chemicals, waste is sorted for recycling and Domaine de la Combe’s bottles are made from 100% recycled glass.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Melon De Bourgogne |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting Info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Sustainable |
Food Matches | Begs for shellfish on ice, but would also work well with almost any grilled fish. It would also work nicely with soft cheeses or goats cheese. |
Origin | Loire, France |
Appellation | Muscadet Sèvre & Maine |