Minimus - Johan Vineyards Mondeuse and St. Laurent 2019
Price: $29.96
| Producer | Minimus |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Oregon |
| Subregion | Willamette Valley |
| Varietal | Other Red Grapes |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 602222 |
| Size | 750ml |
Craft Wine Company houses three wineries, Origin, Omero, and Minimus. Despite being under the same ownership, each winery has its own distinct philosophy and approach. Origin's mission is to provide a platform for highlighting wines of exceptional significance. To be labeled as Origin a wine must show it’s special character at all stages. Omero's mission is to serve as the cornerstone of the operation. Affordable and unpretentious, these wines are also accessible and made with traditional methods and no additives. Minimus serves as the research and development brand for the winery. Experimentation happens here at all levels utilizing an array of fermentation vessels, numerous cultivars and clones, crafting wines that are delicious but different. Many of these wines are singular, destined never to be replicated, embodying the essence of Minimus' quest for novel expressions in winemaking.
Minimus’ “Double Helix Red Wine” is such a wine. Combining Mondeuse and St. Laurent – two obscure varietals that were planted together at Johan Vineyard, in the newly-created Van Duzer Corridor AVA. The plan? Create two separate, single varietal wines from these grapes. But when they were finished fermenting, they had a little leftover of each so they put them together in a barrel. When they tasted the resulting blend, they realized that the combination was better than either alone.
Mondeuse is a grape native to eastern France, in the Savoy region near the French Alps. For years, its origins were a mystery, but it has recently been confirmed through DNA testing to be a relative of Syrah. St. Laurent is a native grape of the Czech Republic, some 700 miles away. Its genetic origins are not known. It is likely a hybrid of Pinot Noir and... something else. It’s these genetic mysteries that are honored in the name “Double Helix”, as this wine showcases the spice and tannin qualities of the Mondeuse and the rustic fruit and bright acidity of the St. Laurent.
