A Deriva Chemins de Bassac 2020

Colourful floating jellyfish are the symbolic image of the "A Deriva" by Chemins de Bassac, with a subtitle: towards nature.  This winery once again plays with extremes: it is now Pinot Noir and Syrah, the grape of cold and the grape of warmth, that meet in this creation of balance and subtlety. The loving bond with the Languedoc region and a skilful touch in the management of the vineyards and vinification allow Bruno and Thama to transform this daring idea into one of the purest expressions of terroir.

The grapes that make up "A Deriva" come from two distinct plots of land in the Chemins de Bassac, managed with biodynamic methods. The Pinot Noir is grown in the area closest to the sea, where the soil has a predominance of clay; the Syrah, on the other hand, is planted in more mountainous plots, at an altitude of around 400 metres: one might expect the opposite, but this surprising interplay is perhaps one of the magic features of this original Occitan estate. The harvest is manual and the vinification of the two varieties is separate: the grapes are destemmed and pressed in wooden vats, after a brief period of pre-fermentation maceration, and the following alcoholic fermentations are spontaneous, using only indigenous yeasts, lasting up to 30 days. The two processes are assembled before proceeding to the period of ageing in cement vats, which lasts several months. Bottling takes place by gravity, without filtration, clarification or stabilisation.

Chemins de Bassac's "A Deriva" immediately greets the eye with its intense ruby red: an immediate sign of how well Chemins de Bassac has worked on the characteristics of the two different varieties. The impact on the nose is intense yet delicate, harmonious: fruity hints of cherry and floral hints of violets blend with a profusion of spices. The taste is really a fine balancing act, with lively freshness leading the drink in accord with subtle tannin. The palate is teased by hints of small fruits, such as cassis, and references to the softness of buttery notes. An interpretation of terroir that we feel would be perfect with a peculiar pairing: feijoada, a sort of dark bean stew with beef, pork and spices an homage the two winemakers of Brazilian origin.