NORTH COAST, California
Natural winemaking born in California, built on the background of UC Davis’ scientific approach to winemaking, with the insight of European winemaking mentors. Shaunt Oungoulian and Diego Roig were part of a unique crowd at Davis, graduating in 2022 along with Martha Stoumen and others who were keenly interested in creating vibrant, zero additive, unfiltered wines from organic and biodynamic vineyards, that are also consistent and stable.
Diego and Shaunt have taken a dual approach to expanding their production and surface reach over the last few years. They organically farm up to 20ha of land in Napa and Sonoma, keeping just a portion of the grapes for their own production, and selling the remainder in order to buy more grapes from areas further north, primarily Mendocino. The grapes grown by Diego and Shaunt make up the Les Lunes line, whereas their purchased fruit is made into Populis.
~2022 Populis White Wine~
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Orange Muscat, Colombard, sorced from Mendocino and Sonoma.
Populis White is an easy-drinking California blend of classic varieties you know and a few surprises. Bright, floral, and mineral-driven. Lemon and lime citrus, green apple, white peach, and a steely finish. All the grapes come from organic vineyards and are fermented separately, then blended to make the final wine.
Populis White Blend 12 x 750ml | SKU #272537 | $26.44
~2022 Populis Sauvignon Blanc~
Old vine Sauvignon Blanc, with a splash of French Colombard and Orange Muscat, sourced from six vineyards in Mendocino and Lodi, with organic farming being practiced in all of them.
Each vineyard was harvested separately and whole clusters were pressed directly. The juice was allowed to settle overnight and decanted off the grape solids. The juice fermented separately in stainless steel and Flextanks. No sulfur additions were made at this point and the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations were 100% indigenous. The Upton Sauvignon blanc, Lolonis Sauvignon blanc and Hartwick Orange Muscat were fermented on the skins to add texture and depth.
Focused acidity, with flavours and aromas balanced between greenness and the ripeness we associate with warm California sunshine.
Populis Sauvignon Blanc 12 x 750ml | SKU #272503 | $26.44
~2022 Les Lunes Searby Vineyard Chardonnay~
The Searby Vineyard was leased in 2022, giving Shaunt and Diego the opportunity to work with 40-year-old Chardonnay plantings from a historic site that had existed pre-Depression. The vineyard is coastal and rimmed with second growth redwood forests, the cool shade from these trees plus the influence of coastal breezes gives amazing depth and freshness for California Chardonnay.
The vineyard is farmed entirely by Les Lunes, and is unirrigated and untilled. Grapes are hand harvestever over a period of 4 days, direct pressed and settled overnight. Fermentation occurs in stainless tanks and juice totes, with a short 8-month élevage in stainless steel tanks. The age of the vines highlights powerful and somewhat opulent varietal typicity, with density and a freshness that we find unique.
Les Lunes Searby Chardonnay 12 x 750ml | SKU #272506 | $28.16
~2022 Populis Reversée~
65% Zinfandel, 30% Carignan and just 5% Pinot Noir sourced from 4 vineyard sites in Mendocino. The vineyards are all organic and dry-farmed, worked by 3rd and 4th generation grape growers, and most of the vines were planted 70-80 years ago. The grapes were all fermented separately and blended just prior to bottling, with a small sulphur addition.
Total bistro wine, this offers juicy and giving red fruit with plenty of acidity and structure to hold everything up, with a tension that keeps things quite moreish. We love this one served cellar temp, or, with a slight chill.
Populis Reversée 12 x 750ml | SKU #272509 | $28.16
~2022 Les Lunes Astral Blend~
A megablend of red and white grapes, made into red, white and rosé wines, then blended together in to a genre- and label-defying wine that is delightfully light and quaffable. Here, Shaunt and Diego employ short vinification and elevage to highlight the fruity tones of the wine.
40 % Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 20% Zinfandel, 10% Grenache, and 5% Syrah made into a light, ethereal, and refreshing wine. Best served chilled.
Les Lunes Astral Blend 12 x 750ml | SKU #272512 | $28.16
~2022 Les Lunes Cosmic Blend~
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay.
Les Lunes Cosmic Red Blend redefines what a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine can taste like. Light and crunchy, with bright red fruit and zippy acidity.