Once I had a choice of being better, Anders Frederik Steen & Anne Bruun Blauert

ORGANIC / NATURAL / VEGAN / LOW SULPHITE

A taught, tense, ethereal masterpiece from Anders and Anna, made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes from Valvignères in the South of France. The grapes are pressed very slowly - over 4 days - in order to gently extract flavour and body from the skins, before the wine matures in oak barrels for two years, giving it a nicely developed and more serious edge. It's packed full of flavour, with gentle citrus and stone fruit flavours giving way to a pronounced saline minerality and hints of herbal aromas like eucalyptus and mint. The oak lends balance but the acidity is still zippy and fresh, undercutting the full and luscious mouthfeel. 

Anders Frederik Steen & Anne Bruun Blauert, the creative minds behind these super-minimal-intervention wines in the Ardèche region of southeast France, bring a touch of magic to winemaking. Anders, once a chef-turned-sommelier with notable stints at Copenhagen powerhouses Noma, Relæ and Manfreds, transitioned to winemaking in 2013. Focused on a pure and natural expression of the grapes, Anders takes an organic and biodynamic approach, refusing to be confined by tradition. His wines express unique characters, a result of non-interventionism, extended maceration, and unconventional techniques, including his refusal to interfere in any way in the vinification process. This risky and courageous approach gives the couple the freedom and courage to craft exceptional wines, emphasising quality over quantity. Each cuvée, showcased with minimalist labels, is a poetic manifestation of the grapes, the terroir, and the couple themselves. 

Origin: Ardèche, Rhone, France
Vintage: 2021
Grape variety: 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Chardonnay
Food pairing: Food friendly, chicken, mushrooms, mild cheeses
Bottle size: 75cl
ABV: 13.75%