42 products
42 products
- Red Wine
- Grenache
- Organic, Sustainable
- Dry
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Peter Sichel
Tucked away in a hidden valley in a remote corner of the Languedoc-Roussillon lies a truly special place: the village of Cucugnan. Historically, there was much wine produced here, given its isolated location, but gradually the local people moved away to the towns. There are now just 130 people living in the village. As the vineyards were left mostly abandoned, the local flora and fauna were permitted to thrive. Cucugnan became a unique area, full of biodiversity, which shines through in the rare plants and flowers that grow there today.
Peter Sichel (of the Bordeaux négociant family) first discovered this valley on a road trip with a friend in the 1960s. He was so spellbound by the place that he bought a house there and, in 1988, planted a vineyard. The project grew, albeit slowly, but the arrival of Peter’s thoughtful and environmentally inspired grandson, Alexander Sichel, has turned the Domaine Peter Sichel project completely around.
Since 2019, Alexander has converted the estate to organics and biodynamics, achieving organic certification in 2022. Furthermore, he is committed to supporting polyculture in and around the vineyards, even enlisting the help of a PhD programme from a Dutch university to identify the incredible array of plant life in the vineyard.
Alexander’s grandfather planted the vines between 30-40 years old. Parcels of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Roussanne lie mostly on the best slopes of the valley. Starting from 350-500 metres’ altitude, these slopes have very little topsoil; the roots go almost straight into the bedrock. The viticultural team here has done much work to focus on the unique characteristics of each parcel to express the terroir of this stunning valley in the most authentic way.
- White Wine
- Chardonnay
- Organic, Sustainable
- Dry
- Residual Sugar: 2.00 g/l
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.00% alc./vol
About the Winery
Iona Vineyards
"THE WINEMAKER IS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE FRUIT"
Iona is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. We have invested in state-of-the-art equipment such as the latest Willmes Press, Bucher Delta Oscillys de-stemmer. A deep trust in the way we farm, lends us to adopt natural winemaking practices in the cellar with minimum use of sulphur, commercial yeasts, enzymes, and filtration. We aim to make wines that portray the uniqueness of each vintage celebrating a true sense of place without overplaying the winemaking hand.
People are an integral part of our success. We have 20 families living on the farm with up to 35 years of service. All vineyard practices are done by hand. Workers are shareholders and receive pension funds, education and social support.
Press Reviews
Decanter World Wine Awards
97 Points
100% Chardonnay. After a Platinum win for Elgin Chardonnay last year, we all suspected it was only a matter of time before this propitious combination of variety and region would make its way into our Top Fifty. So it proved this year, as this high-sited (200m-450m), mountain-fringed zone in the Cape's deep, ocean-cooled south brought us one of the most memorable of this year's Chardonnay cohort. It's pale dawn-yellow in colour, with taut yet close-knit aromas that suggest plant sap, peeled vegetable and spring leaf as much as green fruits. The 11 months' oak provide an aromatic backdrop without obscuring vineyard character. On the palate, the wine is lean, shapely, intense: a cool waterfall of Chardonnay fruits which sweep seamlessly over the tongue, leaving it looking for more. Drinkability, refreshment and a unique regional style come together memorably here. Best in Show.