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MOD0418RW
Comme Avant
2018
Cotes Catalanes
Certified Organic
Biodynamic farming
Wild yeasts
Low Sulphur

Regular price £30.45

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Cotes Catalan is possibly one of the most exciting and understated IGPs in the Languedoc and even in the whole of the South of France. Stretching from the base of the Pyrenees down to the Mediterranean coast it covers a range of Mediterranean terroirs surrounded by garrigue-covered hills and poor, dry soils. The hot climate, with low annual rainfall, ensures that the native varieties of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Rousanne, Viogner and Carignan ripen with concentration and power, whilst a fresh breeze up from the Med and down from the mountains ensures freshness and acidity. In the best sites, old vines and schistous soils, produce intensely mineral, flavourful and powerful reds and whites unlike any others.

Domaine Modat is a modest 23 hectares of vines found in the commune of Cassagnes in the Agly Valley, 30km due west of Perpignan and 200-300m above sea level. Upon founding the estate in 2007, Philippe Modat has worked the vines organically (achieved certification in 2014) and biodynamically (not yet certified) and having moved back to working as a lawyer he has left it in the safe hands of his dynamic and hard working sons (all by the way under the age of 30). The vineyards themselves are composed predominantly of well drained Gneiss, in which are grown indigenous red and white Roussillon varieties - including 115-year-old Carignan. In the last 10 years they have built a modern carbon neutral winery and embraced biodynamic viticulture, working with restrained extraction, fermentation on wild yeasts and as little sulphur as possible.

Tasting note: Concentrated dark rich forest fruits; thick blackcurrant; jam and earth. Immediately filling; soft and velvety. Thick blackberries; mulberries; chocolate and notes of fresh coffee and earth. Tough minerality. Long finish. Dry and juicy.
Winemaking Detail: Hand-harvested. Sorted at the vineyard and at the winery, partly desteemed (80%) keeping the best whole grapes (20% in layers). Natural fermentation in concrete tanks aiming for a long maceration with very light extraction using only gentles pushing downs ("mouillage") providing for silky tannins. 18 months aging in the same concrete tanks and in foudres (30%), followed by a two to three years bottle aging before release.
Features Mulberry Blackcurrant Chocolate Concentrated Rich

Features Blackcurrant, Chocolate, Concentrated, Mulberry, Rich, Savoury,
Tasting note Concentrated dark rich forest fruits, thick blackcurrant, jam and earth. Immediately filling, soft and velvety. Thick blackberries, mulberries, chocolate and notes of fresh coffee and earth. Tough minerality. Long finish. Dry and juicy.
Drink with
Goulash, Pulled pork, Short ribs,

Wine details

Country France
Region Cotes Catalanes
Producer Modat
Wine Name Comme Avant
Colour Red
Style Rich & Full bodied
Vintage 2018
Main Grape Carignan
Other Grapes 10% Syrah; 10% Grenache
Size 75cl
Closure Cork
A.B.V. 0.14
Production 12000
Aging 18 months in concrete tanks (70%) and 2-year-old barrels (30%)
Soil Gneiss
Time to drink Now - 2025
Winemaking Detail Hand-harvested. Sorted at the vineyard and at the winery, partly desteemed (80%) keeping the best whole grapes (20% in layers). Natural fermentation in concrete tanks aiming for a long maceration with very light extraction using only gentles pushing downs ("mouillage") providing for silky tannins. 18 months aging in the same concrete tanks and in foudres (30%), followed by a two to three years bottle aging before release.

MOD0418RW
Modat
Comme Avant
2018
Cotes Catalanes
Certified Organic
Biodynamic farming
Wild yeasts
Low Sulphur

Cotes Catalan is possibly one of the most exciting and understated IGPs in the Languedoc and even in the whole of the South of France. Stretching from the base of the Pyrenees down to the Mediterranean coast it covers a range of Mediterranean terroirs surrounded by garrigue-covered hills and poor, dry soils. The hot climate, with low annual rainfall, ensures that the native varieties of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Rousanne, Viogner and Carignan ripen with concentration and power, whilst a fresh breeze up from the Med and down from the mountains ensures freshness and acidity. In the best sites, old vines and schistous soils, produce intensely mineral, flavourful and powerful reds and whites unlike any others.

Domaine Modat is a modest 23 hectares of vines found in the commune of Cassagnes in the Agly Valley, 30km due west of Perpignan and 200-300m above sea level. Upon founding the estate in 2007, Philippe Modat has worked the vines organically (achieved certification in 2014) and biodynamically (not yet certified) and having moved back to working as a lawyer he has left it in the safe hands of his dynamic and hard working sons (all by the way under the age of 30). The vineyards themselves are composed predominantly of well drained Gneiss, in which are grown indigenous red and white Roussillon varieties - including 115-year-old Carignan. In the last 10 years they have built a modern carbon neutral winery and embraced biodynamic viticulture, working with restrained extraction, fermentation on wild yeasts and as little sulphur as possible.

Tasting note: Concentrated dark rich forest fruits; thick blackcurrant; jam and earth. Immediately filling; soft and velvety. Thick blackberries; mulberries; chocolate and notes of fresh coffee and earth. Tough minerality. Long finish. Dry and juicy.
Winemaking Detail: Hand-harvested. Sorted at the vineyard and at the winery, partly desteemed (80%) keeping the best whole grapes (20% in layers). Natural fermentation in concrete tanks aiming for a long maceration with very light extraction using only gentles pushing downs ("mouillage") providing for silky tannins. 18 months aging in the same concrete tanks and in foudres (30%), followed by a two to three years bottle aging before release.
Features Mulberry Blackcurrant Chocolate Concentrated Rich

Features Blackcurrant, Chocolate, Concentrated, Mulberry, Rich, Savoury,
Tasting note Concentrated dark rich forest fruits, thick blackcurrant, jam and earth. Immediately filling, soft and velvety. Thick blackberries, mulberries, chocolate and notes of fresh coffee and earth. Tough minerality. Long finish. Dry and juicy.
Drink with
Goulash, Pulled pork, Short ribs,

Wine details

Country France
Region Cotes Catalanes
Producer Modat
Wine Name Comme Avant
Style Rich & Full bodied
Vintage 2018
Main Grape Carignan
Other Grapes 10% Syrah; 10% Grenache
Size 75cl
Closure Cork
A.B.V. 0.14
Production 12000
Aging 18 months in concrete tanks (70%) and 2-year-old barrels (30%)
Soil Gneiss
Time to drink Now - 2025
Winemaking Detail Hand-harvested. Sorted at the vineyard and at the winery, partly desteemed (80%) keeping the best whole grapes (20% in layers). Natural fermentation in concrete tanks aiming for a long maceration with very light extraction using only gentles pushing downs ("mouillage") providing for silky tannins. 18 months aging in the same concrete tanks and in foudres (30%), followed by a two to three years bottle aging before release.