Ribiera - La Source des Selces NV

A surprisingly fresh fortified red from Languedoc. Made with minimal extraction to give a wine that, while still full of flavour, does not feel as heavy as some fortified wines. Great with chocolate.

ABOUT DOMAINE RIBIERA

Catherine & Regis Pichon moved their family out of Paris in 2005, settling in the village of Aspiran in the Languedoc. There they started their own domaine, 7.5 hectares of vines on the sloping hills that surround the village, making natural wines with organically farmed vines and minimal intervention winemaking techniques.

The vines are planted on marl (calcareous clay & sandy soil) and rolled pebbles, at an altitude of 110 metres high, and are between 20 to 50 years old. The Pichon's cultivate traditional grape varieties for the area, including Cinsault, Grenache, and Terret. The grapes are hand harvested by a consistent team that have worked with the Pichon's since the beginning of the domaine, with the grapes picked on taste to ensure ripeness.

Each plot of vines is hand harvested and vinified separately, with spontaneous fermentation using natural yeasts from the grapes & present in the cellar.

Red wines are made with destemmed grapes placed into a vat, with gentle pump overs during fermentation under grape marc (the grape solids) between 8 to 20 days.

The wines are vinified without additions. Bottled during the waning moon, with minimal sulphur added.