Domaine La Lauzeta produces some fabulous organic wines from St Chinian. Established in 2015 by Tom Hills, with winemaker Florian Bruneau this is a true ‘Garagista’ wine maker which now has a small winery in the village of Saint-Nazaire-de-Ladarez. Tom bought two old vineyards to create Domaine La Lauzeta, and immediately began organic conversion. He has quickly gained recognition, and his and Florian’s wines are listed on 17 Michelin starred restaurants in France.
The Sabeza is Lauzeta’s first foray into orange/amber/skin-contact-white wines. Orange wines are sometimes referred to as ‘the red drinker’s white’ – because the white grapes skins are macerated in their juice, orange wines have a depth of colour and levels of tannin you would normally associate with a red.
This one is the product of the first harvest of the Lauzeta’s Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris vines – only 1,000 bottles made. It’s juicy and succulent, with fruity aromas of apricot and raisin, with a dry and surprisingly saline finish. Best served chilled a little but not too cold – think 10-12 degrees. Unfiltered, so a little cloudy.
