# Sub Divo (2023)

- **Producer:** Clément Poirel
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grolleau Noir, Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 10.5%
- **Average price:** €21
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, black pepper, violet

## About this wine

Clément Poirel, a former professional chef in Paris and New York, shifted his focus to natural winemaking, taking over pristine vineyard parcels in Beaulieu-sur-Layon in 2020. Located in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley, the estate features dark schist and slate soils that have been farmed organically since 2005. The name 'Sub Divo' translates from Latin to 'under the open sky,' symbolizing Poirel's focus on authentic, low-intervention expression of traditional Loire grape varieties produced in very limited, micro-cuvée quantities.

## Interesting facts

- Winemaker Clément Poirel worked as a chef in Paris and New York before pivoting to natural winemaking in 2020.
- The cuvée name 'Sub Divo' is Latin for 'under the open sky,' honoring minimal intervention.
- The vines grow on rich dark schist and slate hills worked organically since 2005.
- Clément manages an extremely small production domain consisting of roughly 20 barrels total across all wines.

## Food pairing

This vibrant, light-bodied red wine features high acidity and soft tannins, making it exceptionally food-friendly. The bright acidity easily slices through rich duck fat, pork, and cured charcuterie meats, while its delicate structure ensures it will not overpower roasted poultry or mushroom-based dishes.

## Wine making process

The grapes are harvested entirely by hand from old vines. In the cellar, vinification relies on semi-carbonic maceration to extract gentle tannins while preserving pure fruit character. Fermentation occurs naturally with wild yeasts, without additions or chemical adjustments. The wine ages in neutral oak barrels nestled inside a subterranean stone cave with gravel flooring. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered with little to no added sulfites.