Domaine Balansa, Coume de Malies

ORGANIC / VEGAN / LOW SULPHITE

A lovely blend of around half a dozen Languedocien varietals, which macerate for a few days on their skins. On the nose it's very floral, combined with notes of lemon peel, beeswax and dried herbs. On the palate there's a fresh acidity and a lovely saline minerality, which play off nicely against the luscious flavours of mandarin, yellow plum and ripe peach, along with more herbaceous characteristics evocative of its wild, Southern French terroir. Great tension and balance, and a lovely long finish. 

Céline Peyre and partner Alexandre moved back home to Corbieres in 2015, to set up Domaine Balansa with her parents. The 14 hectares of schist-based hillside she farms have been in the family for several generations, but only since the homecoming of Céline has it been vinified in-house. Everything is farmed according to biodynamic methods, with a coveted certification coming in 2021, and in the cellar she keeps things as low-intervention as possible, eschewing the use of sulphur or other additives.