L’AUTUNNO features a collection of savoury, complex wines to complement autumn’s larder. Offering layers of depth and intrigue, they are perfect for celebrating around the table with the best the season has to offer.
VALFACCENDA
Roero Arneis 2023
Piedmont, Italy
A blend of two parcels of Arneis in the valley Luca calls home. The first comes from younger vines planted over soft sand and was picked early and given a direct press straight to stainless steel vats. The latter is planted over more compact soils, picked a little later and spends ten days in contact with the skins before being pressed off to old oak. They spend around nine months in these vessels before blending. It is a wine of real balance, the fruit and flowers tempered by pleasant acidity and that textbook salty finish.
Arneis
TUTTI FRUTTI ANANAS
Toranja 2022
Roussillon, France
A direct press of Grenache Gris and Macabeo from a parcel planted over pure schist. A little reduced on opening, it carries a gentle spritz and offers real refreshment through a combination of minerals, lemons and sea salt. A wine with an almost tonic-like quality, it is an excellent way to begin a meal.
Grenache Gris, Macabeo
OLIVIER BOULIN
La Vol Tige du Cat 2021
Jura, France
A blend of old vines of Carignan and Grenache from a parcel farmed by Sébastien Chatillon planted over limestone near Uzes in the Gard. The grapes were macerated on the skins for three weeks, before being pressed slowly to old barrels for a year of elévage. Southern in accent, the cooler vintage has produced an elegant wine with delicate notes of red berries, earth and herbs.
Carignan, Grenache
CATHERINE DUMORA
ZiD(u) 2021
Auvergne, France
From thirty year old vines of Syrah planted over limestone in Rieux-Minervois, this sees the variety reimagined under the watchful eye of Catherine. A gleaming ruby in the glass, this shows the grape at its most pretty, perfumed and playful. Compact and elegant, a cascade of blackberries, minerals and cracked pepper add plenty of vigour and intrigue, making for something truly one-of-a-kind.
Syrah
DIDIER CAZAC
La Cuvée à Poils 2022
Ardèche, France
Grenache from a forty year old parcel over clay and limestone. The grapes were destemmed and macerated on the skins for a fortnight before a short rest in cuve. Offering an explosion of red berries and wild herbs, despite the warmth of the vintage it remains compact and elegant. A brilliant expression of one of our favourite grapes.
Grenache
LE COSTE
Rosso di Gaetano 2022
Lazio, Italy
From parcels in both Pitigliano and Bomarzo, this is roughly half Sangiovese with the other half being a mix of Syrah and Merlot. It spent three weeks on skins, before being pressed off to vat to rest for six months. Reflecting the vintage this is a little more delicate and nuanced, combining dark berries, earth and bitter herbs to beautiful effect.
Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot