Description
Forever a fan of classics, Ratte is, undoubtedly, my favorite natural wine producer, making the most magnificent red wines from France’s Jura region. Located almost 200 miles east of Burgundy, Jura’s topography naturally draws comparisons to the juggernaut, but its altitude is higher, the soils are heavier (with more clay), and the climate is less forgiving, with more rainfall and cooler temperatures. Ironically, the wines feel the same— wild, unpredictable, quirky, and sensitive. If you want to taste the idiosyncratic thrill of the Jura, then look no further than Domaine Ratte.Certified Biodynamic, Michel-Henri and Francoise Ratte grow the rare variety, “Trousseau à la Dame,” a superior version of Trousseau because its berries are smaller and its clusters are looser. This bottling comes from their “Clos Maire” parcel, which is a natural intermix of Trousseau à la Dame and Pinot Noir, made in a style that represents the vineyard’s wonderful raw self—co-fermentation of the two grapes, with a semi-carbonic maceration, followed by aging in old Burgundy barrels, without fining and filtration. A small dose of sulfur (thank you!), zippers-up the wine’s freshness and prevents those peculiar aromas of stinky, melted tires. In the glass, you can taste singularity of Clos Maire. Its lifelike kaleidoscope of fruits will make you shiver, and its invisible feathers of acid and tannin will make it impossible for you not to want to have the bottle all to yourself. Mostly available in Europe, we’re lucky we get to hog a nice allocation of this bottling. I strongly suggest that you get two bottles because one will go poof!~Allegra A
