Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable, Vegan, Vegetarian ... we have something for everyone!
The differences can be confusing but we hope this explanation will help: an Organic wine is a wine made from grapes that have been grown without the use of artificial or synthetic chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides; a Biodynamic wine means that the grapes are farmed biodynamically and that the winemaker did not make the wine with any common manipulations such as yeast additions or acidity adjustments; and a Sustainable Producer is someone committed to using methods that reduce soil erosion, pesticide dependency and loss of biodiversity (for example providing owl boxes and raptor perches in vineyards to maintain ecological control of mice!).
The type of fining agent used in creating wine will determine whether it is awarded Vegan-Friendly status (no animal-derivative agent is used i.e. the winemaker may use Bentonie Clay) or Vegetarian-Friendly status (the use of egg white or casein - a milk product) or neither (where gelatin, isinglass or chitosan may be used).
A Sulphite free wine? Unfortunately, there is no true “sulphite free wine” or “sulphur free wine” as very low levels are naturally produced during fermentation. But for those of you sensitive to sulphur, we suggest trying a Natural, Organic or Biodynamic wine who's 'sulphite-status' is lower than most.
Natural wine is wine made with minimal chemical and technological intervention, both in growing grapes and making them into wine. The term is used to distinguish such wine from organic wine and biodynamic wine because of differences in cellar practices. So there we go - now you are in the know!
3 products
2023 Domaine de la Rochette Touraine Gamay
Regular price £13.99This is Gamay Noir with white juice. The vines resulting from massal and clonal selections are between between 10 and 30 years old. Planting density is 6500 vines per hectare. Average yields are 50 to 55 Hl/Ha, barely a liter of grape juice per vine.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Ruby-red colour, bold, garnet red highlights.
Nose
Aromatic, elegant, subtle violet aromas, intense fresh fruit aromas, subtle strawberry aromas, generous raspberry aromas, subtle cinnamon aromas.
Palate
Elegant, delicate, smooth, violet overtones, generous fresh fruit hints, vanilla hints, fresh tannin, round, slightly mineral, light body, good intensity, long length.
Soil
The soil type "Perruche" is made of flint clay with more or less silica and gravel. Most of the plots are on the first Cher's hillsides, with good exposure and a fairly large slope allowing the flow of excess water.
Vinification
The berries are picked and sorted for quality. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats, which allows a natural micro-oxygenation of the juice. The fermentation is of “semi carbonic” type, which is to stay shielded from air and in an environment of carbon dioxide, making it possible to obtain more elegant and fruity aroma.
The history of Domaine de la Rochette en Loire
Domaine de la Rochette has been in Vincent Leclair's family for four generations. Taking over his father's fifty hectares of vines in 2014, Vincent Leclair has made a few changes to the management of the vineyard, adding his own touch. For example, he keeps the grass in the rows to enrich the soil via other types of plant, and he has also stopped using insecticides, preferring instead sexual confusion hormones: a highly effective means of combating insects harmful to the vines. He then invested in new equipment, much more precise in its application.
These include new tanks and new tractors. Although he is an enthusiast of organic viticulture, he admits that it is rather difficult to implement because the Touraine region experiences a lot of rain throughout the year, resulting in a higher risk of disease. With his new equipment, he has nevertheless managed to reduce his treatments by around 50%. Treatments against mildew and powdery mildew, two diseases that are rampant in the vineyards, are therefore carried out as little as possible. The estate is HVE certified.
Accolades
- Silver Medal - Concours des vins des Vignerons Indépendants 2023
- Gold Medal - Concours international Gilbert et Gaillard 2023
Specifications
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 75cl |
| Cultivar | 100% Gamay |
| Country | France |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% alcohol |
| Units of Alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units of alcohol |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential |
Drink within 3 years at a temperature of around 8-10°C. |
| Food Matching |
Enjoy with red meats, cold cuts, and goat's cheese |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Origin | Loire Valley |
| Appellation |
AOC Touraine |
2023 Cave de l'Ormarine Duc de Morny Picpoul de Pinet
Regular price £12.29Vibrant and fresh, a perfect Picpoul!
Tasting Notes
Gently perfumed ripe melon fruit on the nose. The palate is ripe but retains excellent freshness, balanced by a touch of white pepper spice that is very typical of its grape variety. Deliciously long, the finish shows bright fruit and a clean, saline/mineral edge.
Production
Cave de l'Ormarine's vineyards lie at approximately 40 metres above sea level on a chalky clay plateau, rich in Cretaceous limestone and quartz. The vineyards lie to the North of the Lac de Thau and slope towards it. Ormarine's head winemaker Cyril Payon makes this Duc de Morny cuvée with a premium selection of grapes from 15+ year old vines, harvested at night to retain their aromatic freshness. They are de-stemmed and macerated on their skins followed by a fifteen-day fermentation without malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Cave de l'Ormarine is an award-winning co-operative which produces wines from the tiny Pinet de Picpoul appellation in the Hérault. The l'Ormarine cellar was established in 1922 when vignerons from Pinet joined forces and formed a winegrowers' association.
Today, the Cave de l'Ormarine is a conglomeration of five separate co-operatives from across the Hérault, each with their own specific terroirs and styles of wine. It is proud to have 470 members farming more than 2,500 hectares of vines.Its flagship Picpoul wines are fresh and terroir-driven, and hugely influenced by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang de Thau, which act as a thermal regulator for the vineyards. In fact, it is said of Picpoul that, "Son terroir, c'est la mer (Its terroir is the sea)."Cave de l'Ormarine has made significant investment in its winery, and prides itself on the high-quality standard and traceability of its grapes.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Spot on - clean, fresh as a daisy, lovely melon fruit titillated with a touch of pepper and a delightful, saline finish. Perfectly balanced and great for salads, shellfish, and chicken dishes. A bottle of this and a dozen oysters s’il vous plait. Bang on for a tenner - great value - over delivers and proves that coming off the well-worn path pays dividends." September 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Piquepoul Blanc |
| Country | France |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment and up to 3 years |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved, Organic |
| Food Matches |
|
| Appellation | AOP Picpoul de Pinet |
| Origin | Languedoc Roussillon |
