DOMAINE DE MONARDIÈRE

2023 GALEJADE

“Honeyed, unctuous and weighty.”

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Domaine de Monardière is in the Southern Rhone cru of Vacqueyras in sight of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range. The estate was established by Martine and Christian Vache in 1987, It is a family-run winery now overseen by their son, Damien who farms the estate’s 22 hectares organically and runs the winemaking programme. All the grapes used in their range of wines are estate grown. Treatments in the vineyard are limited to copper and sulphur (permitted in organic viticulture) and fungal disease is naturally minimized because of the Mistral, the dry wind which is an important climatic feature in much of southern France.

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REGION: Vacqueyras, Rhône Valley, France.

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VARIETIES: 50% Rousanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette.

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WINEMAKING: The three varieties are hand harvested at the same time, pressed together and cold settled for clarifying the must before fermentation with indigenous yeast in 600 litre oak foudres.  The wine is then aged for 11 months without stirring or racking before bottling.

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TASTING NOTE: A pale lemon colour, with citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit, and orchard fruit of peach and apricot. A lingering herbaceous fennel note is backed by fresh acidity, nice weight on the palate and a lasting finish.

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PAIRING: Creamy seafood linguini or risotto with fresh lemon squeezed on top. Burrata with buttered sourdough bread. Drink now, but will keep for 3-5 years.

 

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ADEGA ALGUEIRA

2020 RISCO

“Highly tertiary and complex .” 

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Nestled on the north bank of the River Sil in the heart of Ribera Sacra in Galicia, Adega Algueira wasestablished by Fernando González in the 1990’s. While the winery is relatively young, the family has been involved in farming and viticulture for generations. Ribera Sacra is a relatively new denomination, and many producers are noting its incredible potential for producing world-class wines. Today, Fernando is aided by his son, Fabio, who oversees the day-to-day operations in the winery. Adega Algueira produces both monovarietal wines and blends from Godello, Albariño, Mencia and Caiño, among others. The fruit is sourced from vineyards on north bank of the River Sil – some with mind-boggling steep slopes of up to 80°. The steep slopes mean that the vineyards are on terraces and all work is manual.

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REGION: Galicia, Spain.

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VARIETY: Merenzao.

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WINEMAKING: The grapes are destemmed, pressed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in 2000 litre French oak foudres before bottling. This low intervention wine aims to preserve the light colour and delicate aromas of this variety.

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TASTING NOTE: A delicate wine with notes of plum and red cherries, baking spices and earth. Silky tannins and medium acidity carry through this medium bodied wine. A short decant is suggested prior to enjoying.

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PAIRING: Charcuterie like prosciutto, or herbed salami, and lighter meats including salmon, pork, or turkey with cranberry sauce. Drink now, or keep for another 3-5 years.

 

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SYLVAIN MOREY

2023 CAPRIERS

“A warming wine for cool fall evenings.” 

 

Sylvain Morey, owner and chief winemaker of Sylvain Morey in Chassagene Montrachet in Burgundy and Luberon hails from a Burgundian family with over 400 years of wine-making expertise. Vinalia members have received two of Sylvain’s single vineyard wines (Le Claux and St Jean) in 2024. We are now delighted to introduce members to the last of the single vineyard wines - Capriers. This northeast facing plot has mostly clay soils at an altitude of 450 m.  The old Syrah vines, that are almost 60 years old, are slowly being replaced with other varieties. The soils bear a resemblance to the village of La Mora in Barolo, and so Sylvain has planted Nebbiolo. The vineyard is certified organic.

 

REGION: Luberon, France.

 

VARIETIES: 40% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir, 20% Pinot Noir, 15% Nebbiolo.

 

WINEMAKING: A portion of the Pinot Noir undergoes whole-bunch fermentation and is aged in demi-muids.  The Grenache and Syrah are vinified together and aged in stainless steel while the Nebbiolo is aged in large demi-muids. After blending, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

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TASTING NOTE: Beautiful notes of red and black cherries, raspberries, and roses. A weighty palate with chalky tannins, medium acidity and a lengthy finish. A warming wine that drinks perfectly on these cooler evenings.

 

PAIRING: Hearty stews and roasts, beef tenderloin, or game, with roasted potatoes and beans. Keep for another 5-7 years.