Sous le Végétal, Auguste 2018

A stunning vinification project by Patrick Bouju and Jason Ligas from the volcanic soils of Samos, Greece. Sous le Vegetal seeks to reflect the micro-terroirs of the island as well as different expressions of the rare varietal Muscat à Petits Grains through varying ageing and maceration techniques. The vines are found at the base of Mount Karvounis where they are exposed to both the sun and sea. In line with both winemakers personal projects, strict biodynamic practices are used in the vineyards, grapes are harvested by hand and absolutely nothing is added in the winemaking process. Auguste is the only red vintage produced using an ancient indigenous cépage, Augoustiatis, the first red grape that was ever harvested in Greece. The grapes come from the village of Pagondas and were handpicked on August 15th at daybreak. Aged in stockinger barrels and off shaped concrete vats this wine balances the acidity and freshness of the quartz with elegant cherry and red fruits and rich tannins. Auguste 2018 pairs well with miso roasted aubergine.