SAY YES TO THE ARDECHE 👍

Heyy

Thursday means one thing! Another rambling email from me (Fionn) about nice wines I’ve drunk, and that you should drink too.

Firstly some new vintages from a producer who I’m quite frankly obsessed with ATM. I fell for these wines hard when in France and was stoked to see a few trickle into the UK soon after. These were in minute quantities but thankfully the latest vintage has followed fast and with a few fresh faces for good measure. I’m talkin’ about Étienne Seignovert.

His formative years were spent sharpening his skills at the esteemed Domaine Gouffier up in Burgundy. He then headed back home to the family farm and has been quietly makin’ moves in the natural wine scene for those with their ears to the ground. Etienne’s vision on farming sees a beautiful blend of polyculture and agroforestry, utilizing the diverse ecosystem of his tree and hedge-bordered land to ensure tip-top fruit. The future is bright. In the cellar, the focus is on delicate extraction, pure fruit, and little manipulation. The wines are electric, unusually fresh, and hard to put down. His Instagram is also full of pictures of his adorable four-legged friend. Worth a follow for that alone.

His white is tense, mineral, and hydrating. Tropical leaning whilst remaining energetic and vibrant. Alpine vibes. The orange offering really brings the best out of two varieties I often try to actively avoid. Not often Viognier and Roussanne make tasty wines but Etienne doesn’t play by the rules. This is even more tropical in both flavour and texture. Feels like you’re necking tropical juice straight from the carton. So much fun and the bracing acidity makes this so hard to stop drinkin’. Obsessed.

Another excellent use of Viognier here sees it being blended with Grenache and Syrah. The former brings juicy texture, and the latter adds a herbal note. The white grapes do so much here, pushing the fruit right through from the strawberry side to an almost peachy/passionfruit thing. Drink chilled, drink fast.

Two more fruit-forward bottles that defy their varieties. Merlot that’s a million miles away from your dad’s dusty Claret. Another rarity in the sense I actually want to drink this. Fresh and brambly it would do just as well on the table as it would a session on the sofa. Finally, a blend that takes me back to holidaying in France as a kid. Expect Grenadine and a light lick of liqourice from this one. There’s a whisper of tannin and spice to make you feel all grown up too.
A final few of some previous vintages of his show-stopping Syrah can be found here and here. Once these are gone they ain’t comin’ back.

Was gonna leave it there but as I write this some elite gear has just rolled through the doors. Magically, the top wine from Dandelion has been restocked. Albeit, in pathetic volume. Don’t miss out on this. Plus, the elusive 910 is finally back! IFYKYK kinda wine… A nod to the Burgundy of old.

Finally, next Tuesday got our Cantina Giardino tasting! Drink 3 healthy pours and nibble away as you learn all about these Italian trailblazers. Plenty of worse ways to spend a Tuesday… Beaujolais Party 3.0 is moving fast. Act now to ensure free-flowing wine all night long, cheese for days, and just all round unmatched vibes.

LYSM

Fionn
xoxox