From: IGP Cotes Catalanes/Roussillon
Varietals: 34% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre, 33% Syrah
Tasting Notes: In three words, this wine embodies fruit, roundness, and pleasure. Aromas of juicy plum and black cherry move seamlessly to the palate, which is textured and bright with a subtle pop of citrus (think orange peel) as well as a dose of savory herbal notes.
Pairing: As the “Côtes Catalanes” IGP designation suggests, this wine comes from an area of France that is home to many people who speak both Catalonian and French. This region had political ties with Barcelona until as recently the 17th century. In a nod to this unique cultural context, we’d suggest pairing this wine with J. Kenji López-Alt’s recipe for Catalan-Style Ash-Roasted Vegetables (Escalivada).
About. “I was introduced into the world of wine during my earliest years by my maternal grandfather in Anjou,” recounts Olivier Pithon of his childhood in the Loire Valley. “I fell into [winemaking], as they say, when I was little. My older brother who is a wine-grower, settled into the Coteaux du Layon region (Jo Pithon) when I was only 4 years old. I have dozens of memories in his wine cellar… and only good ones!”
Craving a deeper experience and a broader expansion of his winemaking knowledge, Olivier left the Loire for Bordeaux four years later, which led him to other internships in Jurançon and Beaujolais.
In the year 2000, Olivier began searching for a place to call his own. He was immediately attracted by Calce, a small village in the Pyrénées-Orientales (also known as Northern Catalonia), located between the Mediterranean Sea, the Pyrenées mountain range, and the Corbières mountain range. Wines made in this corner of France don’t have their own appellation controllé, and are therefore often labelled IGP Côtes Catalanes (as this bottle is); this allows Olivier Pithon the freedom that he so values in his work.
Today, Olivier is proud to farm 8.5 hectares of vines rooted into marl, schist, and limestone soils at high elevations. He incorporates biodynamic practices into all that he does, as he believes this is the best way to respect the natural resources given to him by Mother Earth.
