Les Infusions de Villa Noria Monarch Pinot Noir 2023
Juicy notes of wild blackberry, raspberry and blackcurrant envelop a soft and beautifully balanced palate with a black cherry compote finish.
The vineyard is located in the Coteaux de Bessilles, where the Mediterranean climate, with its warm, dry summers and relatively mild winters offer the vines excellent conditions in which to flourish. The high number of sunshine hours results in wines that are rich and aromatic, but also fresh due to the tempering effects of the Mediterranean Sea. The grapes come from vines located in the coolest part of the vineyard, on the north-facing hillsides, which produces grapes with good maturity, natural acidity yet lower levels of sugar. The soil is fertile, with good proportion of clay and limestone, which helps to avoid water stress during the summer. The vines are pruned according to the Cordon de Royat method, which leaves ample leaf coverage to protect the grapes from too much direct sunlight. The vineyard is certified organic, and HVE Level 3 certified for sustainability. The vines are surrounded by hedges, to protect them from pesticide treatments in the neighbouring fields and also to provide a refuge for the wildlife, enhancing biodiversity. Harvested in the cool of the night to retain freshness.
Produced predominantly from the Monarch grape variety, which is a cross between Merzling and Dornfelder which has good resistance to disease and is a so-called PIWI (pilzwiderstandsfähig - fungus resistant ) variety. The grapes were destemmed and underwent six days skin-contact maceration at cool temperatures of 5°C, followed by malolactic conversion. Five days later a long, slow fermentation took place at 20°C lasting around 30 days in order to obtain a naturally low alcohol wine of around 8.5%, without undergoing a dealcoholisation process, which is forbidden for organic wines. The wine was aged on its fine lees for six months in concrete tanks until bottling. 20% was aged in French Burgundian barrels to impart further complexity.
| RRP | £13.50 |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 8.5% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Languedoc |
| Subregion | Coteaux de Bessilles |
| Grapes | Monarch 75%, Pinot Noir 25% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 5 |
| Body | B |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | Yes |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Villa Noria is the story of two wine enthusiasts, Fabien Gross and Cédric Arnaud, who both grew up in viticultural regions - Languedoc and Alsace - surrounded by vineyards and winemaking heritage and is the result of overflowing enthusiasm, ethics and values. The inheritance left to its owners by their winemaking ancestors, was passion and respect for the land. Located a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea, between Pézenas and Montagnac, Villa Noria produces elegant organic wines, in perfect harmony with nature and the terroir. The winemaking is traditional, without chemical additions and only low doses of sulphur are used. Their natural ranges ‘Amfòra’ and ‘Basic Instinct’ are vinified without the addition of sulphur.
