2020 Clos Bateau Tonic of Wildness

WINEMAKER: Sylvie & Thierry Klok-de Visser
REGION: Beaujolais, FR
VARIETAL: Gamay
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

"This is a gently sparkling pét-nat made from Gamay. The grapes are from the the lieu-dit 'Les Montheiux', which sits 310M above sea level. The soils here are made up of pink granite, clay, and some quartz. They also included 10% of grapes from their wild and abandoned vineyard, which they are bringing back to life. (The abandoned vineyard only produced 110kg of grapes). The grapes are direct-pressed, very slowly, which is where the wonderful colour comes from. The wine was aged in bottle on fine lees for 20 months, and then disgorged in May this year. Zero added sulfites. Production: 810 bottles

If you want a wine with heaps of bubbles then this probably isn't for you. If you want a delicious wine and aren't too fussed about the amount of bubbles, then go for it! The gorgeous colour alone is enough to make you reach for the bottle. Not many bubbles or pssst when opening. Smells of raspberries, red delicious apples and strawberries. To drink it is very delicate and lacy, with bright flavours that match the nose. Energetic, elegant and captivating. Reminds me of a very light Poulsard or Gamay d'Auvergne. Even without so many bubbles, it's such a pleasure to drink!" - Ryan Larkin

Sylvie & Thierry Klok-de Visser started their adventure in 2019 when they moved to their domaine in Lantignié, Beaujolais. It’s a small 5.5ha, nature-friendly domaine where they work all year round with just the two of them. With almost all the vineyards and land (totalling 8ha) around their domaine, they are creating a thriving ecosystem. As soon as they arrived, they immediately planted over 100 fruit and nut trees in the vineyards to increase biodiversity. They want to work with nature in harmony, not against it.