The ChanChan Collectif

Twice coincidence.  Thrice is a strong scent.  When a top-notch local bistro, neighbourhood wineshop, and a respected winegrower all mentioned ChanChan, off went the blood hounds.

We found Manuel.  Schooled by Leah Devay @Coume del Mas, now the neighbourhood prodigy of Gilles Troullier.  This is the second vintage of The ChanChan Collectif – a collaboration of four young wine-fanatical friends who bet a chunk of their lifesavings on a hairy-leafed grape variety few of us can pronounce – Lledoner Pelut.

We tasted the 1^st vintage of Lazzer, straight out of the barrel and burst out laughing.  Just gorgeous.  They produce two other wines – Eclosio & Furia.  Both Llodoner Pelut, Eclosio blended with old-vine Cinsault.

For young minds, they’ve placed a well calculated bet.  Both Cinsault & Llodoner are native Roussillon grapes, very well suited to the dry, hot, windy conditions.  Llodoner is nicknamed ‘hairy Grenache’ – it’s a mutation of Grenache Noir – with downy leaf underside which conserves moisture in extreme heat ala Rosemary.  It also reaches phenolic ripeness early, so low ABV (>13%), and develops typical spicy and savoury characteristics early.  Their plot is at altitude above the Têt valley facing the Canigou mountain. 

They are on a path to biodynamic farming, with minimal intervention in the cellar a principle.

We are over-the-moon to be their exclusive UK importer and, given the thoughtfulness of their fundamentals, anticipate a very bright future!