Cuvée Romanissa 2023

Cuvée Romanissa 2023 by Matassa is a soulful and deeply Mediterranean red wine made from Carignan and Lledoner Pelut (Hairy Grenache) grapes. Produced in the hills around Calce in Roussillon, close to the Spanish border, it shows a more structured and grounded side of Matassa whilst still carrying the freshness and energy that define Tom Lubbe’s wines.

The fruit comes from old organically farmed vines planted on limestone, marl and schist soils, where strong Tramontane winds and cooler mountain influences from the Pyrenees help preserve balance in the warm southern climate. The naturally low yields from these old bush vines give the wine depth and concentration without excessive weight.

Compared to some of the wilder Matassa bottlings, Romanissa leans more toward classic southern French character, though still made with a very gentle low-intervention approach. The grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged slowly in old neutral barrels and concrete, allowing the fruit and terroir to speak clearly without oak dominance.

The 2023 vintage is beautifully layered and savoury. Expect dark cherry, blackberry and plum fruit alongside dried thyme, rosemary, black olive and cracked pepper. There’s a subtle earthy character running underneath, with soft tannins and a mineral freshness that keeps the wine lifted despite its deeper profile.

This is probably one of the more quietly serious wines in the Matassa range - less punky than Olla or Brutal, but incredibly satisfying and expressive in its own way.