Luna toons

2009 La Luna, Vin de Pays de la Cote Vermeille, Bruno Duchene
A four hectare domaine in Banyuls-sur-Mer in the Roussillon (French Catalonia) and near Collioure. This is the rocky, creek-riddled stretch of land where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean; this is Catalonia (the region is called Costa Vermella - the vermilion coast in Catalan). The dramatic and wild countryside, stunning colours and luminosity were captured artistically and made famous by Fauvist painters such as Matisse, Dufy and Derain. Collioure’s nickname is the town of the painters (‘La cité des peintres’)

Bruno was a fresh mushroom merchant in Brittany, and then in Burgundy.  He had discovered a love and fascination for wine from his early youth and decided to enrol in a wine-making and viticulture course in Beaune in Burgundy.  He then worked for nine months with Frederic Cossard of Domaine Chassorney in Saint Romain (where biodynamic farming is used), it was here that he learnt the art of wine-making (and wine-drinking, he comments).

This wine is called La Luna in reference to the name of Bruno’s beloved mongrel setter crossed with French mountain sheep dog who died at the age of 14 in 2009.

Bruno works organically on the steep slopes jutting up from the Mediterranean. This particular cuvée is made from a blend of 90% Grenache, 10% Carignan vines grown on schistous terroir.

After manual harvest and selection there is 10-15 day maceration with wild yeast whole bunch ferment in 26hl wooden vats. The wine is neither filtered nor fined.

La Luna is full-bodied with warm strawberry and cherry cola aromas and confit fruits on the palate. Drink with meat paella, pork and bean stew, grilled chorizo or chicken livers with tomato sauce