Sous le Végetal, Octave 2022

In 2018, Patrick Bouju and fellow 0/0 winemaker Jason Ligas acquired vines in Samos, Greece and began a stunning vinification project. 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. 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. Ligas retired from the project in 2019 so these new vintages are pure Bouju. Octave 2022 is made entirely from small-grain muscat from Samos grown in places called Pagondas, Karvounis and Platanos — eight plots from four terroirs, okto meaning eight in Greek. A pronounced sulphurous nose, with an underlying sweetness reminiscent of ripe white peaches and sherbet, combine with a citric, fresh and saline flavour profile. Octave 2022 would pair well with massaman curry.