2018 DOMAINE DE SULAUZE “GALINETTE” BLANC – COTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE
40% Grenache Blanc/ 20% Vermentino/ 20% Ugni Blanc/ 20% Clairette
Winemaking details: Karina and Guillaume Lefèvre bought this property in the heart of Provence in 2004. There were 29 hectares of vineyards, an abandoned winemaking barn, a few stone buildings, and an olive grove. They quickly converted everything to organic, and soon after biodynamic and polycultural farming. Now the entire 500 hectare estate is Demeter certified and includes vines for wine, olives for olive oil, wheat fields for bread, barley for beer, orchards for cider, livestock, chickens, and a vegetable garden for feeding their family and employees. The vineyards are planted to sandy, limestone heavy soils, and they cultivate grape varietals that are traditional in the region. These white grapes are hand harvested and gently pressed to stainless steel tanks for a co-fermentation with native yeasts. After fermentation, some of the wine rests in steel and some in neutral French oak barrels for 10 months. The wine is not fined nor filtered, and sees just a small amount of sulfur before bottling.
Color: Pale Straw
Bouquet: Lemon, orange blossom, lychee, pear, honeycomb, oyster shell
Palate: The bursting aromatics of the nose continue on the palate, with citrus, white flowers, and light stone fruits. This white is on the fresher and brighter side for these grapes, but still has a great weight and texture with medium plus acidity, only 12.5% alcohol, and a medium body. There is a mineral core, and a long finish with light spice and herbaceous notes that leave you begging for more. This versatile wine would be great all year round, but is especially intriguing for welcoming in the cooler weather. Enjoy this wine with an endive, feta, olive, pear salad, a grilled artichoke with lemon aioli, a creamy asparagus and goat cheese risotto, or a seafood casserole.
With additional bottle aging before release, this wine is drinking great now. It would go for 2-4 years longer if desired.
Further information can be found here: Domaine de Sulauze
2020 DOMAINE SEROL “ELCAT DE GRANITE” COTE ROANNAISE – LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE
Gamay St. Romain
Winemaking details: The Côte Roannaise is technically part of the Loire Valley, but is actually closer to Beaujolais. Like Beaujolais, Gamay is the dominant grape and thrives here at high elevation sites with granite based soils. Stephane Serol is the 5th generation in his family to farm this estate, and when he and his wife took over in 1996, they converted everything to organic farming and are now certified organic and biodynamic. They have some old vine plots, and have been expanding with massale selections on new plantings on their property. They work with the local heirloom clone of Gamay, Gamay Saint Roman, instead of the more common Gamay Noir. Gamay Saint Romain tends to have smaller bunches and berries, which often translates to a more concentrated expression of the fruit. The grapes, which are mostly coming from 80 year old vines, are hand harvested and fermented by native yeasts with about 50% whole cluster in temperature controlled concrete tanks. After a cool fermentation, the wine is pressed and ages in concrete as well. It is bottled with a no fining, a light filtration, and a low dose of sulfur.
Color: Ruby
Bouquet: Blackberry, wild herbs, iron, light anise, black cherry, violettes, ripe cranberry, white pepper
Palate: The wine is soft, finessed, and nuanced, yet still packs a punch with a full body and lush texture. It is spicy, earthy, and fruity, with a bright balanced acidity and a polished, long finish highlighting the granite soils and this unique clone of Gamay. Enjoy this wine at room temperature during colder months, or with a chill on warmer afternoon. Pair with a charcuterie board, chili-garlic grilled salmon, or tenderloin with a blackberry sauce.
This wine is meant to be consumed within 5 years.
Further information can be found here: Domaine Serol