Rotem & Mounir Saouma : Arioso 2021

Tasting notes and recommendations for Arioso 2021 by Rotem & Mounir Saouma

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a dark, deep color, more intense than one might expect from a Grenache-based wine.

Nose

The nose is fragrant and refined, unfolding layered aromas of red and black fruits: raspberry, cherry, Boysenberry. Notes of Indian spices, licorice and bergamot intertwine with hints of garrigue typical of the terroir. Touches of incense, saline minerality and cedar round out this complex bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine surprises with its freshness and elegance, in contrast to its visual intensity. The silky texture reveals fine, perfectly integrated tannins that effortlessly carry the wine’s concentration. The mineral structure brings precision, while the 16% alcohol integrates harmoniously with no sensation of heat. The finish is long and complex.

Food and wine pairings

This wine is an ideal match for herb-grilled lamb, especially with rosemary, thyme or oregano. It also pairs beautifully with mushroom dishes, grilled fish, or seafood in a creamy sauce. Roasted Mediterranean vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini or artichoke also make excellent pairings. For a cheese board, opt for goat cheeses, sheep’s-milk cheeses, or aged bloomy-rind cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to decant Arioso 2021 two to three hours before serving to allow full aromatic expression. The ideal serving temperature is between 16 and 18°C.

A Châteauneuf-du-Pape of rare elegance by Rotem & Mounir Saouma

The estate

Rotem & Mounir Saouma established their estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape around 2006, after founding in 1999 the micro-négociant Lucien Le Moine in Bourgogne. Mounir Saouma, of Lebanese origin, developed his passion for wine during a monastic experience before studying oenology in Montpellier. Rotem, from a family of cheesemakers, specialized in viticultural agriculture in Dijon. Today, the couple oversees around 37 hectares of vines spread across the five communes of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Their philosophy is rooted in minimal intervention, extended ageing, and a constant pursuit of finesse and terroir expression, earning them international recognition.

The vineyard

The Arioso cuvée comes exclusively from a parcel located in the Pignan sector in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This rocky, sandy terroir gives the wine its hallmark mineral elegance. The Grenache vines, planted in the 1930s, naturally produce extremely low yields of about one ton per acre. These old vines yield sparse bunches with small berries widely spaced, concentrating physiological ripeness and phenolic development into a minimal berry volume.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved particularly challenging in the Rhône Valley. A severe frost on the night of April 7th to 8th affected around 40% of the Grenache crop, reaching 80% in certain plots. After a mild winter, the spring remained cool, followed by a summer marked by several bouts of intense heat alternating with more moderate periods. Beneficial rain in early August prevented severe water stress during ripening. The growing season progressed slowly, requiring late harvesting from early September to early October, sometimes complicated by equinoctial storms.

Winemaking and ageing

Arioso 2021 is made with whole clusters after an eleven-day cold soak. Fermentation starts naturally with indigenous yeasts, without temperature control, and proceeds slowly with no pumping over or punch-downs. After gentle pressing in 1970s vertical presses, the wine is aged for three years in 228- and 500-liter barrels. Throughout this period, the wine is neither racked nor sulfured, retaining all of its fine lees until one month before bottling. No filtration or fining is carried out.

Grape variety

100% Grenache