Domaine des Schistes
Happy New Year! And welcome to the first l’Art du Vin wine club of 2024.
I hope that you all had an enjoyable festive period – enhanced by a couple of good bottles of wine!
2024 has the makings of a challenging year within our industry for reasons that have been well-documented across the media . However, rather than dwell on that, we are using January this year to scour the globe and strengthen our portfolio.
January is always a quiet time on the face of it within hospitality, as restaurants take a breather and less patrons dine out. But in a business like ours, January is a hive of activity. Behind the scenes we are sourcing new wines, securing allocations from sought after estates, establishing stronger connections with our existing producers and preparing our calendars for the coming year.
Towards the end of this month, my colleague Richard will be representing us at Millésime Bio – the premier organic wine fair in Europe. Over the course of three days, he will meet with many of our existing producers as well as spend time trying to uncover some new gems to add to our list for this year. All being well, we will be able to showcase some of these new finds as part of the Wine Club selection over the coming months!
For this month, I have put together a selection from our friends at Domaine des Schistes in Roussillon. I think these wines are perfect for this time of year – rich enough to deal with the winter chill that still hangs in the air but with bright, ripe fruit that hints at spring being just around the corner!
I hope that you enjoy the selection and, as we enter a new year, thank you for your continued support of l’Art du Vin.
Cheers!
Philippe
Domaine des Schistes, Roussillon, France
The vines of Domaine des Schistes have been producing top quality fruit for three generations.
Until the late 80s, these grapes were sold to the local co-operative. However, by 1989, Nadine and Jacques Sire were beginning to grow frustrated at the fact their quality production was being thrown in to the mix at the co-op with fruit of lesser quality from surrounding vineyards. They took the decision to withdraw from the co-op and begin fashioning their own wines.
After his parents had made the initial forays into independent production, Mickaël joined the family team in 2004 and took the wines on to a new level. Rather than learning on the job, he had studied winemaking in various regions both in France and abroad. His innovations included modernising the winery, the purchase of smaller vats for enhanced selection in winemaking and the determination to begin working organically.
‘Illico’ Blanc 2021
Tasting Note
Macabeo (95%) and Vermentino blend. Bright and floral with notes of apple, lemon, pear and white blossoms.
Food Pairing
Pair with a lightened Chicken Alfredo for a weekday meal!
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‘Essencial’ Blanc 2021
Tasting Note
A blend of Vermentino (38%), Grenache Gris (34%) and Macabeu. Fresh and bright with flavours of citrus pith and ripe orchard fruit. The palate is mid-weight with a round, lush texture and a salty, mineral finish. An expressive, complex and terroir-driven Côtes du Roussillon.
Food Pairing
Incredibly versatile but will work well with fish or dishes that are heavy on the herbs or citrus flavours. Also, very enjoyable on its own!
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'Illico’ Rouge 2022
Tasting Note
Marselan (32%), Cinsault (40%) and Carignan blend. A seductive, fruit-led red with supple tannins.
Food Pairing
A perfect match for tapas with friends.
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‘La Coumeille’ 2020
Tasting Note
Syrah (85%), Grenache Noir (10%) and Carignan blend. This ‘cuvée parcellaire’ makes for a really enjoyable red showcasing the domaine's terroir at is very best. Fine tannins, satisfying mouthfeel and fresh finish.
Food Pairing
Partner with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and hearty stews.
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