2014 The Bee-Side

Retail
£19.50
Member
£15.60
Varieties
Grenache
Vintage
2014
Country
France
Region
Roussillon
Alcohol
14%
Bottle size
750 mL
Drinking Window
2016 - 2020

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Awards

Title
SILVER
Year
2017
Event
International Wine Challenge
Description

The Bee-Side is Domaine of the Bee's second label wine. Made from 100% Grenache from our Coume de Roy and Bac de Genievres vineyards. The result is a wine with a harmonious blend of delicate yet expressive red fruits with hints of fennel and rosemary.

Eyes

A beaming cherry red.

Nose

More bright cherry and raspberry fruits alongside with a touch of local herbs. The black schist soils gives the wine purity.

Mouth

On the palate The Bee-Side is bursting with expressive red fruit, but there is also a distinct mineral freshness, fine tannins and notes of fennel that balance the wine perfectly. The finish is long.

Body

medium

Winemaking Notes

All are grapes were hand harvested, and then hand-sorted at the winery to ensure we only chose the healthiest and ripest grapes. Our Grenache was emptied into upturned demi-muids (500L barrels) with the ends taken out, and then gently macerated in the cool of a refrigerated container, before being warmed up, inoculated with yeast, and gently punched down 2-3 times a day. After pressing in a small basket press, the wine was drained into two 500 L barrels, one 1-year-old barrel, and one 4-year-old barrel, which were then blended to produce this delicious Grenache.

Growing Conditions

We spent a lot of time and energy working hard in the vineyard to try to grow the tastiest grapes possible, but in 2014 we had a run of things that went against us, with two of the grape-grower’s worst enemies getting the upper hand towards the end of the summer.

This year we had four generations of ‘eudemis’ of the grape berry moth. Normally, there’s only three. But their numbers grow exponentially, and with a fourth generation, we had a lot of damage.

Secondly, we had an attack of the dreaded Asian fruit fly – drosophila suzukii. Unlike ‘normal’ fruit-fly, which only attack grapes that are already damaged – Suzukii will bite a hole in a healthy grapes, and turn it to vinegar very quickly.

A very thorough hand selection resulted in us throwing away around 50% of our grapes.

Of the grapes picked, we decided that regretfully our Carignan grapes were not up to the necessary standard for Domaine of the Bee wines, so they were sold in bulk. However our small quantity of Grenache was delicious and demanded to be bottled.

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Comments

Patrick Courtenay

A friend who claims to know nothing about wine gave me the Grenache because she fell in love with the label. (She's right as well. Not only is the label entertaining but I learnt about a region I never knew existed - French Catalunya??? Who knew?) The wine was gorgeous and I'll be getting more here in Ireland. It stands right up with really good Pinot Noirs, including the New Zealanders. You have another supporter. Regards - Pat Courtenay.

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Reviews

Richard Hemming MW
www.jancisrobinson.com - Professional

"Pepper, meat and exquisite red fruit…lovely subtle balance."

16.5

Jamie Goode
www.wineanorak.com - Professional
http://www.wineanorak.com/wineblog/grenache/the-bee-side-grenache-from-domaine-of-the-bee

August 24, 2016 23:00

"From the Coume de Roy and Bac de Genievres vineyards. Beautifully aromatic sweet black cherry and raspberry fruit nose. The palate is silky and quite elegant with fruit sweetness but also a stony, mineral core. Ripe, with good concentration, but also restraint. A lovely example of Grenache. 91/100"

91

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