2021 The Bee-Side
- Retail
- £20.00
- Member
- £16.00
- Case
- £120.00
- Case (Member)
- £96.00
- Varieties
- Grenache
- Vintage
- 2021
- Country
- France
- Region
- Roussillon
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
- Bottle size
- 750 mL
- Drinking Window
- 2022 - 2025
- Description
The Bee-Side is our second label wine, made from 100% Grenache. Much of the fruit now comes from Jean-Marc Lafage’s Grenache vines, blended with 3 barrels of our oak-aged pale red from the Domaine of the Bee vines. The result is a bright, juicy, 'smashable' wine ideally served lightly chilled
- Eyes
A bright yet extremely pale pinkish red - almost like an old-fashioned 'clairet'
- Nose
Gentle, herbal, fragrant red fruit - fresh cranberries and griotte cherries.
- Mouth
Deliciously drinkable and juicy - a joyous young Grenache with a riot of succulent, crunchy cranberry fruit and a savoury freshness that immediately calls for another glass.
- Body
medium
- Winemaking Notes
Our grapes are hand harvested, and then hand-sorted at the winery. The crop was healthy, and very little selection was needed. Our Grenache was emptied into upturned demi-muids (500L barrels) with the ends taken out. The barrels picked after the rain were 'bled' to remove a small amount of juice, which was amalgamated to create two barrels of a very pale red. Some of Jean-Marc's Grenache was fermented with 'whole bunches', and the rest were destemmed. We blended Jean-Marc's light and juicy Grenache with the two barrels of our 'pale red' and a barrel of saignée rosé to produce this year's Bee-side.
- Growing Conditions
An EXTREMELY cold January, with rare snow lying on the ground (briefly) marked the start of a year that was incredibly dry. Very low rainfall in a cool spring, and then a nice mini heatwave in June, but still very little rain. Two more heat spikes in mid July and late August, followed by September rains which finally allowed the vines a little moisture, and helped to swell the thick-skinned grapes. Most of the vineyards for our white and rosé were harvested before the rain, and most of our reds in a dry spell after the rainy spells. A good year for white and pinks, and a GREAT year for reds.
- Food Pairing
A very easy-going red that can be drunk on its own, but try it with white fish, or tomato dishes.
Reviews
David Williams
The Guardian - Professional
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/jun/26/get-acquainted-with-grenache-blanca gloriously rosehip-tangy, raspberry-racy coulis gently infused with wild rosemary and thyme that goes by the name of The Bee Side 2021
Jamie Goode
Instagram - Professional
@drjamiegoodedrjamiegoode – Well done @justinhs14 @domaineofthebee for this sensationally smashable @roussillonwines Grenache – light, fragrant, ethereal and quite silky, and I love the label too, as someone who grew up with vinyl (and cassettes)
Comments
No one has given their opinion yet.
Let us know what you think