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10 wines from the Global Organic and Vegan Masters 2024
This year’s wines in the Global Organic and Vegan Masters proved that there is more choice than ever in the category. Here are 10 wines that showcase some of the best vegan or organic options available.
Tasting notes from Patricia Stefanowicz MW and Patrick Schmitt MW.
SECRET DE LÉOUBE
Producer: Château Léoube
Region: Provence
Country: France
Vintage: 2023
Grape varieties: 63% Cinsault, 37% Grenache
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: <1g/l
Approx. retail price: £36
Medal: Gold
A brilliant, benchmark Provençal rosé that’s also organic, Secret de Léoube is a great find in a world when environmentally-friendly wines are in strong demand, as well as dry, palepink drinks.
This particularly-fine example mixes notes of white-fleshed peach with a touch of crunchy redcurrant, complemented by a hint of ripe cherry and a dry, appealing mix of chalk dust and lemon zest. Refreshing yes, but also soft and fruity at its core too. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
GAIA ORGANIC MALBEC
Producer: Domaine Bousquet
Region: Gualtallary
Country: Argentina
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Malbec
ABV: 14.5%
Residual sugar: 1.94g/l
Approx. retail price: £14
Medal: Gold
Affordable, fine and organic, this Gaia Malbec from Domaine Bousquet is a brilliant box-ticker for the discerning, environmentally-minded drinker.
Among the flavours of dried herbs and blackcurrant are notes of vanilla and cracked pepper, along with a touch of cherry jam, and then lots of grippy tannins to ensure the finish is refreshingly and dry. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
STONELEIGH PINOT NOIR 2022
Producer: Stoneleigh
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Abv: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 1.7g/l
Vintage: 2022
Approx. retail price: £10.99
Medal: Gold
With more than 30 hectares dedicated to biodiversity and regenerative land in the Rapaura sub-area of the Wairau Valley, Stoneleigh is well-respected for its espousal of sustainability.
This stylish Pinot Noir is typically pale ruby in colour and has bright cherry fruit with a delicate smoky overlay. Dry and light-bodied, the palate shows good intensity of flavours supported by racy acidity and linen-textured tannins with nutmeg accent adding interest. Sappy and savoury with a lingering lifted finish, the wine will match nicely with vegetarian dishes, such as roasted Portobello mushrooms with melted Bleu d’Auvergne cheese and thyme, as recommended by Stoneleigh Vineyards. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
A CABERNET FRANC
Producer: VIK
Region: Cachapoal Valley
Country: Chile
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 2.87g/l
Approx. retail price: £20
Medal: Gold
Proof of the quality of Cabernet Franc in Chile’s Cachapoal Valley is this fine organic wine from Vik, featuring notes of ripe red berries, some blackcurrant too, then dried herbs, fresh peppercorn and plums. The finish is long and fresh, with a hint of nettle, but also sweeter notes of vanilla and raspberry, and then a dry, finely-tannic edge. Layered, refreshing, and lingering. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
WARBOYS VINEYARD SHIRAZ
Producer: Angove Family Winemakers
Region: McLaren Vale
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Shiraz
ABV: 14.5%
Residual sugar: 1.2g/l
Approx. retail price: £36
Medal: Silver
Hailing from the brilliant Australian producer that is Angove Family Winemakers, this Warboys Shiraz uses fine McLaren Vale grapes to yield a drop of power and complexity.
Mixed in with notes of spearmint and juicy blackcurrant are flavours of toast and coconut, sweet cherry and creamy vanilla, before the wine finishes with a lovely mix of dark chocolate, fresh mint, and fine mouth-coating tannin. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
ARÍNZANO MERLOT AGRICULTURA BIOLÓGICA
Producer: Arínzano
Region: Navarra
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2019
Grape varieties: 100% Merlot
ABV: 15%
Residual sugar: 2.7g/l
Approx. retail price: £40
Medal: Master
A mouth-filling, indulgent and frankly delicious drop with so much flavour and power, this organic Spanish Merlot is a wine with four-wheel drive that could go anywhere.
There’s fruit-cake-like flavours of prune and raisin, dried cherry and baked blackberry, complemented by notes of sweet balsamic and coconut, with a persistent finish, featuring not just characters of roasted coffee, and warming alcohol, but also mouth-coasting dry tannins, which make this dense and super-ripe wine surprisingly drinkable. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG RISERVA
Producer: Castello di Albola
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Sangiovese
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 1.2g/l
Approx. retail price: £32
Medal: Silver
A pure Sangiovese Riserva-level Chianti Classico with all the character one would expect from a great Tuscan red, as well as the benefit of being organic. In terms of flavours, there’s plenty of ripe plum and juicy red berry, mixed with refreshing notes of sour cherry, grippy fine tannins, and lovely lingering notes of tobacco and cedar wood. A youthful, structured, mediumweight red that’s delicious now, but could be cellared for another five years or more. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
FONSECA TERRA PRIMA
Producer: Fonseca
Region: Douro
Country: Portugal
Vintage: NV
Grape varieties: 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Barroca, 20% Tinta Roriz, 20% Touriga francesa, 20% Touriga Nacional
ABV: 20%
Residual sugar: 98g/l
Approx. retail price: £21
Medal: Gold
This first-rate fortified wine delivers all the sweet, fruity, powerful appeal of Port as well as organic certification – which means not just growing the grapes according to environmentally-friendly practices but also producing it using an organic spirit.
Rich in flavours of raisin and prune, along with delicious characters of blackberry and cherry jam, it’s unctuous, as well as intense, gently warming, finely-tannic, and instantly. appealing. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
TROP M’EN FAUT
Producer: Champagne Drappier
Region: Champagne
Country: France
Vintage: NV
Grape varieties: 100% Fromenteau
ABV: 12%
Residual sugar: 0g/l
Approx. retail price: £85
Medal: Gold
A fascinating, unique and delicious organic Champagne made entirely from Fromenteau – the local name for Pinot Gris. There’s a beautiful white gold appearance and inviting, complex aromatics of ripe apples, honey, and brioche.
In the mouth, this is full and textured, with a broad, almost oily midpalate, with notes of baked apple, bread dough, and beeswax, followed by a persistent finish, featuring salty and yeasty notes, a touch of bitter orange, and then a bone-dry edge. This is a zerodosage fizz, and such is the depth of fruit, it doesn’t need any sugar. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
NATURAE ORANGE
Producer: Cramele Recas
Region: Recas
Country: Romania
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 70% Riesling, 22% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Muscat Ottonel
ABV: 12.4%
Residual sugar: 2.3g/l
Approx. retail price: £8
Medal: Gold
A brilliant and affordable orange wine from Romania’s Cramele Recas, this example sees a range of white grapes undergo extended skin contact to give a powerfully-flavoured, finely-tannic drink that could happily be served with fatty dishes, such as duck confit.
Flavour-wise there are notes of dried fruit, such as raisin and apricot, as well as fresher flavours of peach and ripe lemon, with a chalky-dry finish that makes you salivate. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
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