The Sauce Subscription - April '25
April marks World Earth Day. Earth Day looks to support sustainable practices, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to highlight some wonderful organic wines.
All wine is to a great extent ‘natural’, but organic viticulture takes work. You must spend four years practicing organic farming, before you can become organic certified. So, with all these wines, you know the winemakers are firmly committed to the sustainability and organic produce.
So we look to highlight wines which are either sustainably farmed, or certified organic, with this month’s Whole Bunch Wines Sauce Subscription.
Many of these wines aren't regulars on our shelves, so if you'd like to see some of these in the future, please let us know!
Red Wine
Bodegas LAN Xtrème Organic Rioja Crianza [£27]
- María Barúa has been head winemaker at the prestigious Bodegas LAN since 2002 and her expertise in oak ageing has garnered much acclaim within Rioja. This Crianza spends around 14 months in new French oak barrels, a slight departure from the American oak which is normally used in Rioja. Look for enticing notes of red fruits, baking spice and liquorice.
Domaine La Croix Gratiot Les Zazous Pinot Noir [£29]
- Domaine La Croix Gratoit has built their reputation as a producer of some of the finest Picpoul in the region - being dubbed the ‘pinnacle of Picpoul’. The Pinot Noir is also outstanding! Hand-picked grapes give birth to a truly Burgundian style of Pinot Noir. Sweet spices, cherry, raspberry, plum and cinnamon all come flying out the glass.
Mandrarossa Nero d'Avola [£20.50]
- This wine punches well above their price range. It is all aged in stainless steel, so the fruit flavours are left to actually sing. However, you still get that real rich black fruit bomb which has made this grape variety such a success. Buy Now
G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba [£33.50]
- We are big fans of G.D. Vajra - a family winemaker that showcases the best of Piedmont. This Barbera is all about freshness. A racy acidity and subtle tannins deliver pronounced flavours of warm spices, rose, blackberry and sweet cherries, (to name a few). Buy Now
Frédéric Berne Beaujolais Lantignié [£25.50]
- Classic Beaujolais - need we say more? Light, approachable and absolutely mouth-watering. This is delightfully crisp and can benefit from 30 minutes in the fridge. You'll note the affects of whole bunch fermentation in this wine, as it has some notes of bubblegum. Beyond that, you'll also get a plethora of red fruit flavours.
Altos Las Hormigas Colonia Las Liebres [£20.50]
- Malbec steals the show in Mendoza, but Bonarda is one of the great Argentinian grape varieties. Originally from Italy, (where it is named Douce Noir), this grape packs a punch with notable tannins and big flavours of pink pepper, eucalyptus, black olive and black fruit.
White Wine
Poggiotondo Vermentino delle Conchiglie [£28]
- Tuscany tends to be Sangiovese country, with white wine sometimes being overlooked. This is a crying shame! Vermentino is a particularly top-tier grape variety from Tuscany. This offering is packed with floral notes of lily and daffodil, but it also has a palpable minerality. Outside of this, fruit flavours of golden apple, white peach and pineapple are all powerful.
Vigneti del Vulture Pipoli Bianco [£19]
- This volcanic wine is a taste explosion. The blend of Greco and Fiano has spent some time on lees, which adds body and texture. Yet, it is fresh and racy with notes of white peach, melon, pineapple and mango. Truly tropical!
Domaine La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet [£21.50]
- We are back with the pinnacle of Picpoul. Absolutely mouth-watering. The biting acidity showcases notes of pink grapefruit, mandarin and lime, as well as more subtle notes of candied lemon and white flowers.
Dobogó Tokaji Furmint [£35]
- This is exceptional and a taste of history. This iconic wine region is best known for the lusciously sweet Tokaji Asźu wines, but dry Tokaj white wine is becoming increasingly popular in the modern day. This wine is big on citrus, without being too sharp. Look for notes of lime, peach, peach blossom, and candied limes.
Loimer Kamptal Grüner Veltliner [£25.50]
- Classic Austrian Grüner. It is sharp, yet elegant and rich. An utterly complex wine which will impart tasting notes of orange zest, dried pineapple, white pepper, eucalyptus, lime jelly, grapefruit and gingerbread. Wow. Buy Now
Luigi Baudana Dragon Langhe Bianco [£25.50]
- Piedmont, like Tuscany, is often considered primarily a red wine region. However, like Tuscany, unbelievable white wines can be found in this region. This wine blends Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Nascette and Riesling into a really interesting and unique wine. Lemon curd, lime zest, mint, peach, apricot and mango all shine from this wine, which displays a touch of salinity of the finish.
Don't Miss Out!
Make sure to check out our wine tastings and monthly wine club, if you want to try great wines like the ones mentioned in this blog post. Links below:
- Manchester Wine Tastings & Events
-
Sauce Subscription (Monthly Wine Club)
- 50% Off Your First Box