Domaine Bomary

 

A great tasting last week, with Richard Dudley-Craig of iubentium.   Richard aims to help wine growers who are looking for a UK importer and the line-up included a new estate with vineyards just outside my Languedoc village. Bohdan Pruski was brought up in Colorado but his origins are Polish Ukrainian.  I dared to ask him where he really came from!  He arrived in France, and spent time teaching English in Paris while developing an enthusiasm for wine, which led him to decide to learn wine making, with a two year viti-oenology course in Pézenas.  And that led to the initial purchase two hectares of vines around Roujan and a small cellar next to the cooperative in Neffiès.  He now farms 21 hectares in four different locations close to Neffiès and Roujan.  I’ve been promised a vineyard walk when I am next in the village.   His first vintage was in 2015.   And the name of the estate is a combination of his name and his wife’s, Marie-Laure.

 

As the blurb in the tasting booklet explains, Bohdan’s vineyards are dry-farmed and his low intervention philosophy for the wine making means no additives and refreshingly, no oak.

 

2021 Viognier, Pays de l’Hérault – 14.00€

A pure Viognier, and quite a delicate one, with some discreet peachy fruit on the nose, and more elegant peachy fruit on the palate, with balancing acidity.   It was nicely understated Viognier, not spoilt by any blowsiness or hints of boiled sweets, which you sometimes find with Viognier from the Languedoc.  

 

2021 Le Rosé d’Helen, Pays de l’Hérault – 7.00€

Named after his mother.  A blend of 70% Grenache, with 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Viognier, which are co-fermented.  The colour is lightly pink, pale but not too pale.  A nicely rounded nose, with some fruit and on the palate an elegant balance of fruit, with some weight and balancing acidity.  Nicely crafted with a refreshing finish. 

 

2020 Carignan, Absolutely, Pays de l’Hérault - 13.00€

From 62-year-old vines, from a vineyard between Caux and Roujan.  Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.  Bohdan wants to emphasise the fruit and he has succeeded very nicely.  Deep colour.  And a satisfying balance of lovely red fruit, with streak of tannin, and a fresh finish.  

 

2021 Le Grand Bo’ Rouge, AOP Languedoc

Bo’ is his father.  A blend of equal parts of Grenache and Syrah.  Again, vinified and aged in stainless steel.  Tiny yield of 20 hl/ha.  Deep colour.  Firm fruit on the nose, and quite a solid rounded youthful palate.  Quite dense and concentrated, from the low yield.  Plenty of ageing potential. 

 

Bohdan has made a great start and I do hope he finds an importer.  Meanwhile I am looking forward to that vineyard walk.