Artemis Botanical Sage Advice 2020

Sage Advice is named for Daniel Sage, the Ardeche-based natural winemaker who pioneered the flottaison technique. In flottaison, direct-pressed juice fills the space around whole-cluster fruit inside a sealed tank, substituting for the CO2 used in standard carbonic maceration. The result combines the high-toned, fruity aromatics of intracellular fermentation with the gentler extraction of direct pressing.

This 2020 bottling uses four varieties sourced from Rough and Ready in Nevada County, Sierra Foothills: Syrah and Roussanne were pressed and the resulting juice poured over whole clusters of Cinsault and Grenache inside a sealed fermentation tank. The blend is unusual, pairing two Rhone reds with a white grape in the press fraction, which adds aromatic lift and texture to the fermentation.

Artemis Botanical works exclusively with organically farmed fruit from across northern California, ferments spontaneously with native yeasts, and adds no sulfur or other additives. The wines are zero-zero by design, not by compromise.