Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Côtes Catalanes IGP
Nikolaus and Carolin Bantlin moved from Germany to the south of France with their young children having never envisioned themselves becoming winemakers. But when the seller of their new property included a clause that they had to take possession of the vineyard with the purchase of their home, they said why not and 23 years later they're producing some of the most amazing wines in the Roussillon.
The name of the winery is a combo tribute to the original name of the vineyard and to The Doors and Jim Morrison. The vineyard, originally named "Domaines des Portes", made them think of The Doors (portes = doors in French) and brought them to the song Wild Child aka Enfants Sauvage.
Naming conventions aside, all vineyard work is biodynamic with the goal to produce natural and sincere wine without artifice. Nikolaus and Carolin see the relationship between grower and land as that of love and respect.
A blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Cinsault and 20% Mourvèdre, the Syrah is pressed like a rosé with the Cinsault and Mourvedre added whole cluster into the fermenting Syrah for a period of 4-5 days. After that, everything is pressed and extracted to be kept in a stainless steel tank. Final results: highly fresh, light, incredibly fruity and very gentle tannins. Bursting with berries, dried strawberries and cranberries, ripe plums, blackberries and dried rosemary. We loved it with a light chill.
Pair with pizza, red sauce pasta, grilled veal or grilled beef skewers.