Counoise strikes again. That obscure grape that we seem to have several examples of. Just about the only UK merchant that has such! And hey, check out these new cool labels from Keep for their 2020 vintage.

Super violetty and purple with a beguiling nose. Parma violets, fresh pomegranate and lilac. Utterly jewel like, whilst the palate opens in to this heavenly, luscious yet light berry coulis, red currant jelly, cola nut, dried raspberry and strawberry liquorice bootlace wonder. More pomegranate, soft herbs and gentle powdery tannins, almost talc like with a sweet sour finish.

This is a wine that makes you feel like “you’re bouncing on a space hopper” declared Gus Gluck of the brilliant Quality Wines in Farrindgon, sounds pretty great to us right!!

Sourced from the Girard Vineyard, a certified organic site in the Sierra Foothills. They ferment the fruit as whole bunches in a sealed vessel (carbonic maceration) and is aged in solely neutral oak, with no fining, filtration or added sulphur. A little naturally cloudy in the glass but crystal clear and pure to drink.

Press on the previous vintage: Brilliant wine. Pale pink red with a hint of orange. Bright and grainy and light with lovely balance and freshness. It has beautiful red cherry and strawberry fruit with good structure and acidity. Such zip and detail. Lovely wine with incredible elegance. Such a wine, with drinkability, elegance and also complexity. 95/100 . Dr Jamie Goode, The Wine Anorak.

 Winemakers Jack Roberts (Mathiasson Wines Assistant Winemaker) and Johanna Jensen (formerly with Scholium Project and Broc Cellars) have come together to create wines influenced by the old world with less ripe fruit, minimal manipulation and great ageability.  In the vigneron tradition they do much of the work themselves from vineyard to bottling.