Rotem and Mounir Saouma

Inopia Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Rouge 2018

Côtes-du-Rhône

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Burgundy meets the Rhône. An utter respect for tradition, and in some ways a total break. We’ve watched as Mounir and Rotem Saouma, of Burgundy producer Lucien Le Moine, slowly developed their estate and wines in the Rhône Valley, and the results today are too extraordinary and distinct to ignore.

Vineyard

The Saouma’s purchased a desolate plot of land in Orange in 2011. A minimal intervention approach combined with the image of the original barren land inspired the name of the wine, INOPIA, which translates to “made from nothing” in Latin.

Soils: Predominately poor clay soil (3 feet) with little river stones called “Grès” (24 feet deep) which provide both favorable humidity for the dry climate and plenty of mineral elements.

Farming: Seeing potential in the land, 11 grape varieties were planted in 2011 under high density (4,700 plants per hectare versus the normal 3,500) with the objective of quality low-yielding fruit. All vineyard work is done by hand.

Grape Varieties: Mostly Grenache Noir, along with a little Mourvèdre, Counoise, Syrah and Cinsault.

Winemaking

Fermentation: Whole cluster maceration under cold temperatures for one week followed by fermentation without any pumping or punching down for 15 days. The wine, along with lees, is then pressed and transferred to French oak foudres (2,300 and 3,400 liters,) cement eggs (600 and 1,600 liters,) and 500 liter barrels.

Aging: Aged for 18 months without any racking. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering.

Vintage

Spring in the South was very wet, interrupting the flowering and causing significant crop loss (up to 40%). The Summer was stable and dry, leading into perfect autumn which allowed even ripening and excellent phenolic development. Harvest took place in late September under clear skies. The old vines in Mounir’s Côtes du Rhône Villages holdings gave concentrated, classic reds – with ripe tannins, adequate but fresh acidities, and excellent concentration (due to the low crop).

Tasting Note

Like his Châteauneuf-du-Papes, Mounir’s Inopia exhibits tremendous finesse and balance. Silky, elegant with transparent and pure red fruit flavors and aromas.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah

Appellation

Côtes-du-Rhône

Suggested Retail Price

$34.00

Reviews

"Extremely stylish"

Wine Spectator - July 7, 2021 "Pretty mesquite and red tea aromas lead off, followed by silky red cherry and raspberry fruit. Shows a light garrigue hint through the finish, as the perfume just lingers and lingers. Small in scale, but extremely stylish." - J.M.

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Inopia Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Blanc

Côtes-du-Rhône

Rotem & Mounir’s whites are breathtaking. This village level wine is no exception, following the similar philosophy of exceptional terroir paired with high quality, low yielding fruit that remains undisturbed for an extended period of time after fermentation.

Rotem and Mounir Saouma Amphorae Collection

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Every year Mounir will select several crus to age in Amphorae, where they will remain untouched for around a year, with no input.  Then a gentle pressing and bottling.  These wines transmit the characteristics of their terroir in a pure, unvarnished manner.  Not normal wines, but then again nothing Mounir Saouma does is normal .  

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Magis

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Another unsurprising but jawdropping discovery when encountering the Saouma wines: Magis, Mounir’s white Chateauneuf from the heavily limestone Pierredon vineyard in Bedarrides. It makes sense that a producer of great white Burgundy would quickly become enchanted by the possibilities here. Only 3% of Chateauneuf is white, and virtually all of it is bottled after 6 months. Mounir’s chateauneuf is aged 18-24 months and has already been compared to some of the great white Burgundy crus for its depth and minerality.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arioso

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

From his original 5 acres in Pignan, Mounir has one plot, of 100% Grenache planted in the 1930s, which yields naturally at a miniscule 1 ton per acre. From these vines he produces Arioso, a Chateauneuf of astounding depth and finesse.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Omnia

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Omnia, Latin for "all," is a wine that attempts to encompass the full diversity of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation, both in its terroir and vinification. Fruit comes from vineyards in all 5 of the Chateauneuf communes (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Courthezon, Sorgues, Bedarrides and Orange) and aged in foudre, cement and 500 liter barrels.