While we’re on the topic of pseudonyms, here’s another one for ya. You’ve likely seen the Jean Bouteille wines floating around the shop, or across town in restaurants and bars, and potentially thought to yourself: “Who on earth makes this sweet nectar of the gods?”
The answer to that question is Jean-Baptsite Courdesses, a strapping Frenchman who’s clocked flying hours in some of the world’s less-obvious wine regions, and forged a career as a sommelier, sake maker and beer brewer. It was a 2017 vintage spent in the Adelaide Hills, however, that moved him to pursue winemaking here in Australia, which he’s done since at the likes of Gentle Folk, Limus and Lucy M. These days, he shares space with Château Comme Ci Comme Ça's Aaron Fenwick and crafts a small suite of wines that spotlight his intimate understanding of fermentation and singular whole-bunch approach in the cellar.
New to the mix in the 2023 release is a blend called Lithium, which invigorates the often ho-hum combo of semillon and sauv blanc with tropical intensity and a saline undertow. The Jura-esque Al Dente has made a triumphant return, organically farmed chardonnay with personality to burn thanks to carbonic maceration and maturation in seasoned French oak. The barriques are filled to just about 80% and un-topped, so expect some yeasty/salty goings on in amongst the tangy nectarine and pineapple fruit profile. Noice. To close, there’s the slushy, sloshy, gluggable and fresh AF Pirate – merlot with a splash of semillon that’s juicy yet crunchy, dark-fruited yet high-toned. Chuck it in the fridge and consider it a reward for reading this far.