Sometimes Always

Inside the Cult ➺ Jean-Yves Péron

Curiosity eventually led Jean-Yves across the Alps. Since 2017, his I Vicini ("the neighbours") project has seen him collaborate with growers in Piedmont, applying the same low-intervention philosophy to Italy's native varieties. A biochemist turned alpine outlaw, coaxing cult wines from near-vertical Savoie schist. In the mountains of Savoie, Jean-Yves Péron is reviving forgotten old vineyards, with his oldest parcels planted in 1893.

His tiny-production, high-altitude wines have earned a cult following thanks to organic farming, zero-frills winemaking and an unwavering focus on place. Pure, unfiltered expressions of grape and terroir. Perfect for those who like their wines with a little edge and a lot of personality.

Read on & shop the collection via the link in bio.

Donna Lucilla ➺ Roma Rosso Montepulciano Blend 2022

Surely you've been bailed up before by some dude insisting you just must read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (just us?). Well, this wine is named for his daughter Lucilla, Roman empress in her own right. Fittingly, it blends Montepulciano, Cab Franc and Merlot from the relatively youthful Roma DOC, ie. the vineyards wrapped round the city that wasn't built in a day. Plump plums, cherry cola, soft herbs. Warm spice and tannin make a strong match for red sauce, rich cheeses, and even oily fish if you're not one for tradition.

Shop via the link in the bio.

Grace Under Pressure ➺ Blanc de Blancs NV

Full of grace: single vineyard Mount Gambier Chardonnay, aka premium cool climate fruit grown in flinty limestone soil. The nearby Southern Ocean's breezes carry brisk conditions inland, ideal for sparkling wine. Freshness and energy have been captured, lightning in a bottle style, with fresh apples, citrus and spicy acid. A perfect, prickling white sparkling, with 18mo extended lees contact and stunning, mouth-filling texture.

Shop via the link in the bio.