Tom Lubbe makes wine at the foot of the Pyrenees, not far from Calce in the Côtes Catalanes. He founded Domaine Matassa in 2003, inspired by the Catalan word for the rough, scrub-like trees that surround the vineyards. A role model for many low-intervention winemakers, Tom’s wines have a loyal following that pays tribute to his expertise. Born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand, Tom is no stranger to the hot, heavy climate of Roussillon and produces fresh wines that he likes to drink himself: orange wines which macerate the skins of white grapes; pink wines that carry the lightness he frequently talks about; reds fermented in whole bunches with their stems still intact. Tom considers soil health a fundamental component of winemaking and is proactive when it comes to enriching his vineyards using biodynamic techniques like composting and cover crops. In his own words, there is often ‘a tendency in the natural wine world to downplay the role of the human making the wine. Which is wrong, I think. Just because we don’t use additives, or much machinery, doesn’t mean that we don’t impact on the grapes.'
At 11% ABV, Olla Rouge 2022 is another wonderfully fresh, light red from Tom, made with a healthy dose of white grapes. 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Grenache Gris and 20% Macabeu, all from vines rooted in clay and limestone soil, are fermented and aged in concrete tanks. Flavours of red berries with a touch of Mediterranean herbs and flowers, and just the right amount of wildness. Great with grilled eggplant and octopus, drink slightly chilled.