RIM
Empordà
Catalunya
RIM Vins i Vinyes is a natural wine project set up by grower Jordi Esteve Xifra that was born of his interest to “know the history of Rabós d’Empordà and recover forgotten vineyards”. When he speaks of his winemaking philosophy, he considers himself to be almost auxiliary in the process. “It's not an invention. I just listen. I only transform matter into fermentation.” The results speak for themselves. This humble, hands-off approach seems to work wonders, producing stunningly characterful and terroir-driven wines.
Jordi cultivates a number of indigenous varieties across the slatey terrains of Empordà, including Grenache, Carignan and Macabeu. Soils here are rich in minerals but fairly poor in lime, meaning for an acidic soil with low PH. Slate has unique large water storing capacity, which comes in handy in the extreme summer.
Working with 8 hectares of vines, he adopts a sustainable approach to farming and a fully natural vinification process in the cellar. Favouring wild yeast fermentations, shorter macerations and gentle cap management techniques, his wines are lightly extracted, complex, and an absolute joy to drink.
The oldest and most special grapes are the ones that come from the vineyard making the Jan Blanco wine. Every year the spontaneous fermentation of these grapes serves as a Pied de Cuve for all other fermentations. Like this all wines carry a little bit of the 100 year old vineyard.
Contraban Pet-Nat
Vintage 2021
Style Pet Nat Rosé
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Garnatxa Negra, Muscat
ABV 12.5%
Soils Rocky slate.
Farming Organic
Winemaking The Garnatxa is sourced from different producers every year as Jordi exchanges some of his grapes in return and keeps the Contraban cuvée as free flowing wine from different origins. This is a blend of 90% Garnacha Negra and 10% Muscat.
The grapes are hand harvested and mixed together, undergoing a
15 hour maceration. This is followed by a soft press
and co-fermentation in stainless
steel. Disgorged after 5 months on the lees.
Tasting Note On the nose raspberry, rose and violet notes, on the palate, lovely sweet red cherry and savoury herbs come through. Nice acidity balancing out the juicy round nature of this Pet Nat.
Sarau Blanco
Vintage 2020
Style Orange
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Garnatxa Roja, Macabeu
ABV 13.5%
Soils Rocky Slate
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of 50/50 Macabeo and Grenache Gris from 60 years old vines. Grapes are hand harvested and de-stemmed together. They then undergo
30 hours of skin contact before
being gently pressed and co-
fermented in stainless steel. The wine is only racked once before bottling. Unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Note Warm pears, white pepper, apricot jam. Redolent with aromas of poached peach, mango and baking spices.
Contraban
Vintage 2020
Style Rosé
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Garnatxa Negra, Muscat
ABV 13.5%
Soils Rocky slate.
Farming Organic
Winemaking Grapes come from both sides of the border: Spain and France. Average age of the vines ranges from 30 to 55 years old. Both varieties are hand harvested and together go through a short
15 hour maceration. This is followed by a gentle pressing
and spontaneous co-fermentation in stainless
steel. The wine is only racked once before being bottled unfiltered and
unfined.
Tasting Note A deep rosé made from co-fermented Grenache and Muscat. Not a typical rosé, this wine if vibrant with electric notes of blood orange, rhubarb, creamy redcurrant, bruised raspberry and leather.
Tot d’Una
Vintage 2019
Style Orange
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Garnatxa Negra, Garnatxa Roja, Garnatxa Blanca
ABV
Soils Rocky Slate
Farming Organic
Winemaking Hand harvest. The grapes undergo
36 hours maceration on the skins before
being gently pressed and co-
fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts. Only one racking takes place before the wine is b
ottled unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Note Beeswax, cooked rhubarb, dried orange and red cherry meet dried herbs cedar on the palate. Waxy, woody and savoury.
Mas del Fils
Vintage 2019
Style Rosé
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Garnatxa Roja
ABV 13%
Soils Rocky Slate
Farming Organic
Winemaking Grapes are hand harvested and sourced from a 60 years old vineyard. The Grenache Gris is de-stemmed before going through a 25 hour maceration on the skins. This is followed by pressing and spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is only racked once before bottling.
Tasting Note
Sarau Tinto
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Garnatxa Negra, Cariñena
ABV 14%
Soils Rocky Slate
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of 50/50 Grenache and Carignan. The grapes are hand harvested, de-stemmed and spontaneously fermented in stainless steel. These undergo 13 days of skin maceration. The wine is then aged in a mixture of stainless steel and 10 years old American oak barrels (400L). Two rackings take place before bottling.
Tasting Note Red plums, blueberry fruit and floral notes of rosemary and lavender on the nose. The palate is rich, coating and spiced with notes of dried herbs and earth.
Vides Velles
Vintage 2019
Style Red
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Cariñena
ABV 14%
Soils Rocky Slate
Farming Organic
Winemaking Hand harvested grapes from 60 years old vineyards. Contrary
to the majority of his other wines
which are early harvested to
retain acidity, the grapes for
Vides Velles are picked only when
they have fully ripen. Hand harvest. Short maceration of 9
days with very little cap
management: about one punch down
every other day. Fermented and
aged in stainless steel for one
year. Bottled unfiltered and
unfined, without any SO2. Only one racking takes place before bottling.
Tasting Note Black plums, red cherry, hint of menthol, roasted orange, warm red berries leading to savoury dried herbs and a nice fresh texture. A cedar note lingers on the finish.
Jan
Vintage 2019
Style Red
Region Ràbos, Empordà
Varieties Cariñena
ABV 14.5%
Soils Rocky Slate
Farming Organic
Winemaking Hand harvested grapes are de-stemmed and spontaneously fermented. These spend a period of 15 days maceration on the skins. The wine is aged half in stainless steel and the other half in 10 years old American oak barrels (400L). The wine is racked twice before bottling.
Tasting Note This wine is dedicated to Jordi’s friend ‘Jan’ who lives in the local village. Jan is an important connection and had taught Jordi a lot about the life in the village. Jan lives in a small house with all his tools, and is a very reserved person that, like Cariñena wines, does not let his guard down on the first encounter, needing time and patience to start showing its’ true aromatics and flavours. Notes red plums, hint of honey, dried hay, dd rosemary, liquorice, followed by a woody aftertaste.