2021 Mataburro Idoine

WINEMAKER: Laurent Roger & Melissa Ingrand
REGION: Roussillon, FR
VARIETAL: Merlot, Grenache
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

"Idoine 2021 is mainly Merlot from vines that are 30 – 40 years old which were planted by Laurent’s father. This is supplemented by a small amout of Grenache. Vinified initially in two tanks, the whole bunches had five days maceration. As mentioned above for the Otium, this short period of maceration ensures that not too much tannin and other harsh polyphenols are extracted leaving a surprisingly fresh and lively wine, showing that Merlot is capable of presenting many faces if treated properly.

One tank had a little pigeage and the other none to keep the floral aromas from the semi-carbonic maceration. The two tanks were mixed after pressing and aged in stainless steel tank. This is a very clever way of dealing with Merlot. It is interesting to see just how good Merlot can be when the wine is made by sympathetic winemakers. Now that so many consumers are moving to lighter styles of red wine rather than the brutish wines of twenty years ago, Merlot is finding a niche.

They found the name ‘Idoine’ in a book Laurent’s uncle had written. It means ‘the good stuff’. We agree! This wine has no additions, including no added sulphites, and no fining or filtration." - Living Wines

Mataburro is a small domaine established in Roussillon by rising stars Laurent Roger & Melissa Ingrand. Laurent worked for several years at the venerable Paris bar à vin Le Verre Volé and after that returned to Roussillon to work directly with Alain Castex, then of Le Casot des Mailloles. Towards the end of 2017, armed with what he had learned from Castex, he and Melissa took over the remaining three hectare vineyard from his father, swiftly converting to organics and biodynamics. Alain Castex taught Laurent the importance of the soil. He also had this concept reinforced by Tom Lubbe and Axel Prüfer.