At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Place
- Banyuls
- Vineyard
- La Galline, a single vineyard
- Main grapes
- Grenache Noir and Macabeo
- Styles
- Sparkling wine, red wine, and sweet wine
- Bottles
- VentuVentu, Bramaventu, Bandarò, and Vin Santo
The Producer
Carlo and Lotte harvest Grenache Noir in late August, when the grapes have reached aromatic maturity at approximately 11.5% alcohol. Bramaventu produces approximately 4,000 bottles each year. Only must from the first pressing goes into Bramaventu's own bottles; the remainder is sold to neighboring producers.
First press is the portion drawn before harder pressing extracts more phenolic material. Sparkling producers commonly choose it for a lighter base wine, the wine that later undergoes the second fermentation.
Place
Banyuls is France's southernmost stronghold for sweet wine, and local doubts greeted the decision to make sparkling wine there. Bramaventu's named vineyard is La Galline, a single vineyard covering approximately 2 hectares at 300 meters above sea level. The parcel faces north and sits on gray schist and quartz.
The Tramontana wind carries cool air from the Pyrenees and makes La Galline the coolest site in Banyuls. A north facing exposure and cold air slow ripening, while Grenache Noir develops aroma before sugar accumulation rises quickly.
Wines
The sparkling wines differ in grape composition and dosage. VentuVentu combines 80% Grenache Noir and 20% Macabeo, with an Extra Brut dosage of 3 g/L. Bramaventu 2021 is pure Grenache Noir, bottled as Brut Nature with 0 g/L dosage. Bramaventu's sparkling wines use méthode classique. A second fermentation in the bottle creates the mousse. Lees contact can add creaminess and finer texture. Extra Brut leaves a small amount of sugar after disgorgement, while Brut Nature leaves none.
VentuVentu has a round, creamy nose full of ripe fruits and hints of almonds. Quince, lemon curd, and ripe fruits open the palate, which has pleasant acidity. Bramaventu 2021 has broad, long mousse with an iodine twist.
Bandarò is a red wine from 100% Grenache Noir and 80 year old vines. It has delicate tannins, lively acidity, and a salty finish. Vin Santo 2021 is a sweet wine from 100% Macabeo. The Macabeo is overripe, affected by Botrytis, and sun dried before cask aging. Botrytis is a noble rot that dehydrates grapes and concentrates sugar. The wine has a golden amber color, with apricots, almonds, dried fruits, and spiced honey on the nose.
Final Word
Bramaventu makes sparkling wines in Banyuls and also bottles red Grenache Noir and sweet Macabeo, with La Galline as its named vineyard.