•WATER•
Version 2022
Recerca
Roussillon, France
Recerca, the Catalan term for 'research,' is a clear priority for Jess and Laurent, who have an additional project called Zulu. While Zulu continues to thrive as a free and experimental endeavour, Recerca focuses on producing more distinct cuvées. Recerca spans across 7ha of land, featuring plantings of Macabeu, Muscat a Petits Grains, Muscat of Alexandria, Mourvedre, and three varieties of Grenache. The diverse plots provide a spectrum of terroirs and even microclimates.
Recerca’s Version was picked for its Mediterranean influence, as a blend of all the permitted varietals in Roussillon, France. It’s a play on the Water theme because although the region has sea/oceanic influence, more often than not, it has little to no rainfall, forcing wineries to come up with creative ideas to make blends as they go. This is Recerca’s house blend of Grenache, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Muscat and Macabeu.
•RACINE WINES CO•
•FIRE•
Porco Rosso 2022
L’étranger
Roussillon, France
After decades of working in big enterprises, Brazilian duo Paulo and Laura started the L’étranger, which roughly translates to “the foreigner” in 2018, with 1.7ha of vines around Calce in Roussillon comprising of Muscat Petit Grain, Maccabeu, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris. Their vines are planted atop a geographical fault line, giving rise to complex terroir of limestone, marl and shale. Since then, they have acquired various small parcels of vines, including abandoned vines. As big fans of motion pictures, all of their wines are named after movies.
Yida says: I chose Porco Rosso to highlight the drought in Languedoc and Roussillon. Apart from the literal scorching feeling, it’s more to highlight the risks of forest fires in viticulture. People speak about frosts and climate change, but this is unprecedented and might be a stark warning of what is to come. This wine represents my Fire choice.
•RACINE WINES CO•
•EARTH•
On the rock again 2020
Nicolas Chemarin
Beaujolais, France
Nicolas Chemarin, a rising vigneron in Beaujolais, introduces us to "On the Rock Again" with a literal nod to its rocky origins. "On the Rock Again" gathers Nicolas's Gamay parcels in Marchampt. It's named after Le Rocher, his standout site, outside Beaujolais's famed cru villages, hence its Vin de France label. These vineyards grow on steep slopes of thin, rocky granite soil.
Yida from Racine says that granite gives a more structured expression of Gamay, which is slightly less approachable in its youth, but has the capability to develop into greatness. “In wine tastings, there's a curious belief that granite can be detected in the wine. Some say, ‘you can really taste the granite’ or "it's got warm, granite tones’. These phrases might convey a sensation, but they're likely just poetic exaggeration.”
•RACINE WINES CO•