Livia 2019

Livia is Muscat from the high volcanic terraces of Samos, given time on its skins, and like everything Sous le Végétal makes it turns the island's sweet-wine reputation on its head. Jason Ligas and Patrick Bouju work around sixty small plots between 400 and 910 metres, farming biodynamically and rebuilding the land through permaculture. The wine is raised the way they raise everything, split across amphora, concrete, steel and old barrel, then bottled unfiltered with no added sulphur behind black wax. Skin contact gives it an amber cast and a gentle tannic grip, while Muscat supplies the lift: white flowers, citrus peel and dried apricot, over a dry, taut, sea-salt finish. Fragrant and serious at once.