VDF blush "Sinner" 2021 - Domaine Hors Ciel (VN)

Terret blanc blend with Carignan Noir from 80 year old vines. The grapes are mixed together during the five maceration days after which the juice in the barrel is then divided in two. A few months before bottling the wine is combined again. Both, officially, yes and no red, no white, no orange, no rosé. A true Sinner. An experiment that Victor wanted to carry out for a long time with a very interesting result of the two southern, characteristic grapes but then so so different. Juicy, fresh and yet a rustic edge with grainy tannins. A little sinning is allowed every now and then.

Country / Region: France / Minervois (Languedoc)
Grape variety(ies): Carignan Noir, Terret Blanc
In the vineyard: Soil consists of oxidized clay, limestone, sandstone, quartz and chalk. Harvest by hand, biodynamic farming. Grape varieties have been mixed on the same piece of land for at least 80 years.
In the cellar: C arignan Noir and Terret Blanc blended during the 5 day maceration. After five days the barrel is split in two and the two barrels mature separately. A few months before bottling the two are blended together again. Unfined, unfiltered, without addition of So2.
Quality mark: Vin nature

Jack-of-all-trades Victor Gourreau grew up in the area and comes from a family of winemakers. At 19, he left for Italy where he gained a lot of experience as a sommelier, maker and enthusiast. Young and already so skilled, he was mainly interested in the fermentation process and so he also gained experience in the beer brewery and in baking. During an internship in Portland, he met the American Emma Olson who worked there at the time.

With a shared interest in fermentation and low-intervention, the couple moved to the Minervois where in 2019 they experimented together for the first time with making their own wine in their own home. With success. Not long after, they bought 3 hectares of vines with mainly mouvèrde grapes. Already in 2021, the first official Hors Ciel vintage was there, with success. They work completely biodynamically, literally everything is done by hand and the land is grazed by sheep from December to the end of March. The two play with different vinification methods with mouvèrde in the leading role. In addition, they also have a beautiful plot of Cinsault, which is an old Carignan planted with some Terret Blanc and Grenaches here and there. In short, the king grape varieties in the region. With only the second vintages this year, the wines of Victor and Emma are light, playful, fresh and juicy and at the same time with a stimulating layering and a lot of depth. So young and already so significant, one of the most promising new discoveries.