Le Petit Gimios Muscat Sec 2022

Le Petit Domaine de Gimios sits in the hills of the Languedoc, where Anne-Marie Lavaysse has revived long-abandoned old Muscat vines since 1993. This dry Muscat comes from those centuries-old plants, farmed biodynamically and made as a natural wine with native yeasts and not a trace of added sulphur. Muscat is one of the few grapes that genuinely smells of grapes, its perfume driven by terpenes concentrated in the skins, and the aim here is to capture that aromatic purity without cosmetic winemaking. Old vines crop small volumes of well-balanced fruit, and dry-farming on the poor upland soils keeps the wine fresh despite the warm south. Vinification is deliberately hands-off, with minimal intervention through fermentation and ageing so the grape and site speak plainly. Labelled Vin de France, it is unfiltered and can show a little natural cloudiness. The colour is bright and youthful. The nose is openly floral, with rose, elderflower and orange blossom over ripe white peach and apricot. The palate is dry, textured and gently grippy, finishing on citrus peel and a ginger-like warmth. Serve chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.