The Yellow Heifer - Organic Pinot Noir - Domaine Du Chateau D'eau

Domaine du Chateau D`Eau - Lunar Organic Wines 'lunar-organic' wine making - 'It's a way of cultivating grapes that follows the code of practice of organic agriculture and also takes into account the phases of the moon' - how vineyard work that disturbs the vine is avoided as the ascending moon rises, as this draws up the sap. Similarly no ploughing, hoeing or earthing up happens during waning moon for fear of disturbing the soil. Vine treatments (organic or course) must be applied just before the full moon and new moon. All this is combined with 'ancestral savoir-faire' and some homoeopathic sprays to ensure the vines make the best grapes they can. And here's the rub. Scientifically a lot of this appears to be nonsense. Empirically a lot of it is very hard to test. But as with so many wines made like this or using full blown biodynamics, the Moillard wines are very good, individual and distinctive. And science does at least agree that vineyard soil in places like Moillard are hotbeds of biodiversity and microbial life.

An excellent alternative to Burgundy Pinot Noir and better value as well. The wine is dry on the palate, fairly light bodied, but with chewy tannins and mid-level acidity. The earth notes on the palate bring vegetal elements of mushroom and black olive. Plum, cherry and strawberry form the bulk of the red fruit, with help from orange rind, a sprinkle of white pepper, violet and some mountain laurel.