Substrata Wines (London Only)
Domain: substratawines.com
Short description

Substrata Wines exists to source delicious, innovative & challenging wines.

We buy from small, independent producers who make wine in sympathy with their environment, with particular emphasis on chemical-free farming.

We promote low intervention winemaking: wine made with a minimum of additives and manipulation.

Substrata Wine is owned and operated by us - Benjamin & Thomas Loudon. We set up the business upon our return to England after a sabbatical in 2018, where we volunteered on organic and biodynamic vineyards in Australasia, (and escaped the 'Beast from the East'. We began as a Norwich based local retailer and events company. During the pandemic we started shipping some wines direct from small independent growers.

Wine is a source of great pleasure for us. We don’t buy wines to fit a price point; we only buy wines we enjoy drinking, and we think your customers will enjoy drinking them too.

We source distinctive wines from independent producers, who grow their own grapes, and so have an active investment in the long term health of their land. They avoid using chemicals sprays or fertilisers, and make their wine with a minimum of processing in the winery. The wines are bottled by the producer at source, meaning that the wine reaches you as the producer intended.

In wine, as in life, one size does not fit all, and though we favour dry farming, hand harvesting and indigenous yeasts, we have faith in the integrity and the decision making of our producers, and we think this is repaid in the quality and stability of the wines listed below.

We are keen to establish symbiotic relationships with other quality focussed food and wine outlets who want to champion small independent businesses, at a time when changes in UK importation is encouraging intensive farming and bulk shipping.

Specialist Areas: Low intervention wine; organic, biodynamic & vegan; Barossa Valley, St Chinian
Stand Location: 7

Substrata Wines (London Only) Catalogue

'Tangerine Dream'

Dry orange field blend from old, ungrafted vines - primarily Pedro Ximénez, Roussanne and Riesling. We get notes of pink grapefruit, apricot and black pepper.

Product Number: 1
Wine Producer: Smallfry
Vintage: 2021
Region / Appellation: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Wine Colour: Orange
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 25 (inc VAT)
Is this wine new to the UK?: Yes
'Eclektik Violet'

Soft and light unfiltered red, made from roughly equal parts of Cinsault and Grenache, the fruit sourced from Smallfry's old, ungrafted, biodynamic vineyard in Vine Vale, Barossa. We get notes of cherry and almond.

Product Number: 2
Wine Producer: Smallfry
Vintage: 2022
Region / Appellation: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 25 (inc VAT)
Is this wine new to the UK?: Yes
'Starry, Starry Night'

Tthe lighter end of Barossa Valley reds. Harvested early, to keep the natural acidity higher, the wine fresher and the abv lower (11%). Made from Cinsault sourced from Smallfry's old, ungrafted biodynamic vineyard in Vine Vale, Barossa. This is packed full of crunchy red fruit.

Product Number: 3
Wine Producer: Smallfry
Vintage: 2022
Region / Appellation: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 26 (inc VAT)
Is this wine new to the UK?: Yes
'Jellyfish'

Made from 100% old vine, ungrafted, biodynamic Grenache. Fresh, vibrant and juicy, its brimful of blackberry and blueberry fruit flavours. With minimal tannins, it can be enjoyed lightly chilled and is all too easy to drink, belying its 14% abv... the sting in the Jellyfish's tail, perhaps...

Product Number: 4
Wine Producer: Smallfry
Vintage: 2022
Region / Appellation: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 26 (inc VAT)
Is this wine new to the UK?: Yes
'Mates' Aglianico

Though new to the region, Aglianico is a variety well suited to the Barossa, as it is drought resistant and ripens after the much-planted Shiraz. Intriguing flavours abound here - bitter herbs, orange rind, a hint of Campari. A memorable red from Izway's off-grid winery, the only one in the Barossa.

Product Number: 5
Wine Producer: Izway
Vintage: 2020
Region / Appellation: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 25 (inc vat)
Is this wine new to the UK?: Yes
'Natural State' Field Blend

Hand harvested, off-dry field blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Petit Manseng from a biodynamic producer in Marlborough - the only one in New Zealand to use heavy horses in their vineyard. Powerfully aromatic, with notes of ripe mango and passionfruit, and a slightly oily texture. A revitalising sipper, or perfect with spicy food.

Product Number: 6
Wine Producer: Churton
Vintage: 2021
Region / Appellation: Malborough
Country: New Zealand
Wine Colour: White
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 24 (inc VAT)
Is this wine new to the UK?: No
'Corteza' rosé

Dry rosé, made from roughly equal parts Syrah and Grenache, with a sprinkling of Cinsault, from the schist soils of a dry-farmed and biodynamic estate in Saint-Chinian, near to Béziers. Notes of white flowers, apricots and redcurrants; this is no powder puff pink, as battonage has added texture, making it suitable for the dinner table as well as the back garden. Perfect with salmon.

Product Number: 7
Wine Producer: Domaine La Lauzeta
Vintage: 2021
Region / Appellation: Saint-Chinian, Languedoc
Country: France
Wine Colour: Rose
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 19
Is this wine new to the UK?: No
'Corteza' Rouge

Juicy and medium to full bodied Languedoc red from a dry farmed and biodynamic estate near to Béziers. 46% Syrah, 32% Carignan, 22% Grenache. Fermented in stainless steel, and matured in tank for 12 months prior to bottling. The Corteza is the entry level red from the estate, released young and ready to drink. Notes of juicy plum and cherry, with hints of garrigues herbs - thyme and oregano.

Product Number: 8
Wine Producer: Domaine La Lauzeta
Vintage: 2020
Region / Appellation: Saint Chinian, Languedoc
Country: France
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 20 (inc VAT)
Is this wine new to the UK?: No
'Mezura' Rouge

Calling this the estate’s ‘second’ wine does it a disservice, as it’s drinking beautifully now (and has another few years of evolution ahead). A blend of 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 15% Carignan. Aged in large French and Austrian oak casks, this is a full bodied but supple and deeply fruity red, with notes of garrigue herbs - fennel and sage. Some definite salinity here, too - hints of lobster shells.

Product Number: 9
Wine Producer: Domaine La Lauzeta
Vintage: 2016
Region / Appellation: Saint Chinian, Languedoc
Country: France
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 25
Is this wine new to the UK?: No
'La Lauzeta'

The estate's top wine, made in the second year of organic conversion. Made from 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache, and aged in new Austrian oak to give the breadth and texture of barrel-ageing, without the overt oak flavours. Without irrigation, the vines yield just 12 hectolitres per hectare - tiny volumes, but wonderful fruit quality. This is deep, dark, dense and meaty. The fruit is developing, with notes of dried fig and prune; the tannins have softened, but there is serious structure here, alongside Garrigue notes of lavender and thyme. Drink now - or over the next ten years.

Product Number: 10
Wine Producer: Domaine La Lauzeta
Vintage: 2016
Region / Appellation: Saint-Chinian, Languedoc
Country: France
Wine Colour: Red
Wine Style: Still
RRP Bottle Price (£): 36
Is this wine new to the UK?: No