Oiseau Rebelle, BRMTH, 2015

Bitter Orange, Herbaceous, Saline

Languedoc-Roussillon / Grenache Noir / Organic (Ecocert)

The grapes are grown on the steep, schistous terraces around Banyuls and are hand-harvested late to achieve ripe, concentrated fruit. For BRMTH the winemaking is intentionally unusual: the Grenache Noir is vinified as a blanc de noirs (very light juice or clear run) but with deliberate extraction of bitter/pithy aromatics (the press and early maceration regime is used to produce a vermouth-like bitterness). Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts and the wine is handled with minimal intervention — little or no added SO₂ (often reported under 10 mg/L), spontaneous fermentation and usually no fining or filtration. The result is a dry, savoury, high-alcohol blanc de noirs with pronounced bitter-orange / pithy character and saline, umami edges. BRMTH is commonly released in smaller (50cl) bottles. 

Notes on the producer

Guido and Melanie Hube founded Oiseau Rebelle after relocating to the Banyuls area and replanting / restoring old terraces on the precipitous, Precambrian schist soils of the Côte Vermeille. The domaine (c. 9 ha) farms organically (Ecocert) and follows biodynamic / permaculture principles, preferring hand work on the steep slopes and very low-intervention cellar practices. Their aim is to express the stark, saline, Tramontane-blown terroir: late picks, low yields and natural ferments result in wines that are saline, tannic, umami-driven and distinctly regional. The project is small-scale and much of their production sells quickly on the natural-wine circuit.