2021 Ami - Castagne Grenache
2021 Ami Description
It was to seal their friendship that Paul Perarnau and Willy Roulendes decided to settle in Burgundy to make wine there. Their two profiles, however, stand out. Freshly graduated from a BTS in viticulture and oenology, Willy spent a few years at the Montille estate, near Volnay, where he learned Burgundian rigor and biodynamics. By then taking charge of the Clos du Moulin aux Moines, in Auxey-Duresses, he took advantage of this solid knowledge of the local terroirs to vinify them. At the time, Paul was still working in England for an importer, then returned to France to spend a year as a wine worker with the legendary Dominique Hauvette, in Provence, before moving to Champagne for two years at the Bruno Paillard estate. From their first meeting, at the Moulin aux Moines, the two friends became friends and decided to start together. Today, the AMI estate operates 4 hectares of vines in the Maranges: Aligoté, red and white Burgundy, Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière, but also grapes from winegrower friends in the surrounding area, in order to leave the possibility of vinifying plots located in the legendary appellations of Pommard, Saint-Romain, Volnay and Beaune. All organic, without input, and above all without any complexes. If they consider themselves more as merchants than as an estate in their own right, their cellar reflects this desire not to give in to any cliché. We wander through vats and barrels where local grape varieties and southern grapes mingle: gamay, grenache and syrah ferment happily among more classic chardonnay, aligoté and other pinot noir. An assertive approach that often gives rise to daring – and delicious – blends. And when we venture to ask them why they have set their sights on Burgundy, Paul and Willy respond in unison: “Because it is the Mecca of wine, and we are very religious”. The Castagne vintage from Domaine AMI is a wine made from the Grenache grape variety (100%). The nose of this wine reveals delicious notes of black cherries, blackcurrant, wild blackberries, red fruits with a hint of spices. The palate is delicious and delicate thanks to a nice balance between roundness of the fruit, freshness of the terroir and finesse of the tannins. Great drinkability! FALLING FOR SOMETHING