COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2022
GRAPE
Muscat blanc à Petits Grains
PRODUCER
Sous le Végétal
REGION
Aegean Islands
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Octave by Sous le Végétal is a dry white wine from the island of Samos, Greece, crafted from 100% Muscat blanc à Petits Grains. This wine is a collaboration between Greek winemaker Jason Ligas and French winemaker Patrick Bouju, united under the Sous le Végétal project. Their philosophy centers on minimal intervention and expressing the unique micro-terroirs of Samos. The vineyards are situated on volcanic soils rich in saline limestone, quartz, basalt, and schist, contributing to the wine's distinctive minerality and saline notes. The winemaking process emphasizes natural practices, with grapes harvested by hand and fermented using native yeasts without any added substances. A key characteristic of Octave is its aging regimen, which takes place in clay amphoras and egg-shaped concrete vats, a deliberate choice to highlight the wine's mineral core rather than primary fruit characteristics often associated with Muscat.
ALCOHOL
13.5%
AVG. PRICE
€34
STYLE
Natural
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
10-12°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The wine is sourced from eight specific plots across Pagondas, Karvounis, and Platanos.
Fact 02
The volcanic terroir includes a mix of saline limestone, quartz, basalt, and schist soils.
Fact 03
Aging occurs in clay amphoras and egg-shaped concrete vats, avoiding wood.
Fact 04
The project aims to revive traditional viticulture on Samos.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
Octave is produced using a philosophy of minimal intervention. The grapes are hand-harvested from eight specific plots on Samos, with the 2022 vintage being picked in the early morning. They are then pressed as whole bunches. Fermentation occurs naturally with indigenous yeasts, and no substances are added during the winemaking process. A defining aspect of Octave's production is its aging regimen: the wine matures in a combination of 75-liter clay amphoras and egg-shaped concrete vats. This method is intentionally chosen to preserve the wine's pure expression of terroir and minerality, avoiding the influence of oak. The wine is bottled unfiltered and without added sulfur, embodying the natural winemaking approach of Sous le Végétal.
