5 Natural Reds Under £20
There's a good handful of our favourite wines that sit at the magic sub-£20 sweet spot that we can see going down well with everyone you'll have round the table this year: from energetic Bordeaux, juicy Cab Franc, or supple southern Rhone blends- we've got you covered.
As always, the growers featured here all work with organics or biodynamics as a minimum, and the added sulphur levels in these is either imperceptibly low, or right at zero. That said, these aren't from our funkier end of the spectrum; being cleaner, brighter and impeccably made- your uncle Ron won't be turning his nose up at this 5 piece.
Chateau les Vieux Moulins- Pirouette 2020
Gentle, drinkable and excellent value natural Bordeaux from Chateau les Vieux Moulins. Plummy dark fruit for a juicy table wine.
From young winemaker Damien Lorteau, who recently took over his parent’s estate, determined to pave the way as an organic, natural winemaker in Bordeaux. Still a rarity for the region, beset by monoculture and mass-agriculture.
Pirouette is a blend of two plots, his Mother’s, closer to the gironde estuary and his father’s further inland near Reignac.
Les Goelands - Oppidum Rouge 2018
Ripe, fleshy Cab Franc in a style you don't often see here in Anjou, Oppidum is a perfect balance of juicy fruit with fresh acidity to keep things from tipping into a jammier territory. A favourite aperitif or lunch wine- we'll be turning to the Oppidum when we crack the crusts on some fresh bread and pull out the paté.
Named for the ancient Roman camp on which this 5 hectare plot grows. A mix of de-stemmed and whole bunch Cab Franc under carbonic maceration, ex-maths teacher Philippe Delmee works here with zero-sulphur.
Le Vent des Jours - Le Zeff 2020
A soft, subtle red: pure-fruited and with a lovely savoury minerality, this is Merlot at its best (and unlike many usually made) Lolo and his wife Nathalie work biodynamically up on the windy tops of Cahors- not a region famed for freshness in it's reds, but these two are able to retain tension and acidity with great skill.
With silky, fine-grained tannins, black fruit and a juicy nose, Le Zeff is a real-winner if you're trying to offer something for everyone!
John Almansa - Terre de Bardet 2019
Versatile, light-footed and supple field-blend from John Almansa in the Gard. The classic southern-rhone varieties: Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon make fast-friends with the roasts that fill our tables at this time of year. Worked gently, crisp red fruit cuts through and lifts. Soft delicate tannin and a nifty highlight of acidity to keep this refreshing whilst retaining depth.
John works as a sheep farmer, keeps bees, grows veggies, and now makes excellent zero-sulphur wine from his small plot of 40 year old vines on sandy clay and limestone.
Domaine du Petit Oratoire 2019 - Copains Rouge
A lighter expression of a classic Cotes Du Rhone blend, deep, the damson-fruit brightened with a fresh acidity and Syrah's pepper, tasting beautiful at the moment, one of our favourites for good reason, and a real crowd-pleaser.
Lori Haon must be the youngest grower we work with aged 26 and undertaking the noble task of converting 24 hectares to biodynamic agriculture. From a patchwork of plots he makes delicate, drinkable and vibrant expressions of his tip of the southern Rhone.
