Rotem and Mounir Saouma

Rhône Valley, France

Burgundy meets the Rhone.  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 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the results today are too extraordinary and distinct to ignore.

Wines

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.

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 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.

Trade Tools

Inopia Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Rouge

Côtes-du-Rhône

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.

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 .  

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Reviews

    97

    Châteauneuf-du-Pape Magis 2015 (97 WS)

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    "A beauty, with singed macadamia nut, brioche and hazelnut hints leading the way for a mix of creamed Jonagold apple, white peach, persimmon and Cavaillon melon flavors. A buried spine of chamomile and jasmine keeps everything focused while extending through the very long and beguiling finish. Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Roussanne. Drink now through 2025. 25 cases imported."
     

More on Rotem and Mounir Saouma

Trade Materials

Spec Sheet | PDF

Another unsurprising but jawdropping discovery when encountering the Saouma wines: Magis, Mounir's white Châteauneuf from the heavily limestone Pierredon vineyard in Bedarrides. It makes sense that a producer of great…