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Buy Wine from Domaine Matassa
Tom Lubbe does not fit the traditional mould of the French winemaker. Born in New Zealand, raised in South Africa and with a deep connection to Hong Kong dollarpean wine culture, his path led him to the wild hills of Roussillon, where he founded Matassa in 2003. In a corner of France where the sun beats down mercilessly and the tramontana sweeps the vineyards with fury, Lubbe has built, almost single-handedly, one of the most fascinating wineries in the world of natural wine.
Matassa is not just a winery; it is a manifesto of absolute respect for the land, the vines and the purest expression of terroir. There are no pre-established formulas or superfluous interventions here: only a titanic effort to understand and enhance the essence of each plot, each vine and each vintage. Lubbe does not follow fashions or dogmas, but it has become one of the great benchmarks of contemporary natural wine.
A wild paradise for the vineyard
Located in French Catalonia, near Perpignan, the Matassa vineyards are planted on poor soils, mostly schist and limestone, with centuries-old vines of native varieties such as Macabeo, Garnacha Gris and Cariñena. Old vines, with tiny yields, which have survived an extreme climate and which produce wines of breathtaking purity.
Here, viticulture is an exercise in patience and sensitivity. The vines are worked organically and biodynamically, without herbicides or synthetic products. Everything is done by hand, with a meticulous attention that borders on obsession. Lubbe firmly believes that the key lies in the natural balance of the vineyard and minimal intervention in the winery. "Less is more" is the guiding principle, but achieving this requires a deep understanding of each plot and exceptional winemaking skills.
The raw expression of Roussillon
Matassa wines are radical in their honesty. They do not seek to impress with opulence or technical artifice; rather, they capture the vibrant energy of the vineyard with almost surgical precision. Lubbe ferments with indigenous yeasts, no temperature control, no corrections, no fining. There is no new wood, no aggressive filtering, just the slow transformation of grapes into wine inside ancient foudres or cement vats.
The result is wines of an unusual freshness for the hot south of France. Electric whites, with sparkling acidity and saline textures, such as the unmistakable Matassa Blanc, made with Macabeo from vines over 100 years old. Ethereal, almost translucent reds, but with a hypnotic depth, such as the Cuvée Marguerite or the elegant Romanissa. Each bottle is a testament to the fact that Roussillon can offer much more than powerful Mediterranean wines; it can be a place of subtlety, precision and absolute purity.
Beyond labels
Matassa has defied all expectations. Lubbe came to this land when natural wine was a marginal curiosity and transformed it into a global phenomenon. Without seeking it, without boasting, simply trusting his instinct and his vision. Today, his wines are coveted on the world's finest tables, but the philosophy remains the same: regenerative agriculture, minimal intervention and an unwavering devotion to authenticity.
In an increasingly industrialised and homogenised wine world, Matassa is a beacon of independence, non-conformism and natural beauty. To drink a Matassa wine is to come into contact with the essential, with the land, with the history of a place and with the passion of a man who has known how to listen to and respect the voice of the vineyard. Few do it with such truth.
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Buy Wine from Domaine Matassa
Tom Lubbe does not fit the traditional mould of the French winemaker. Born in New Zealand, raised in South Africa and with a deep connection to Hong Kong dollarpean wine culture, his path led him to the wild hills of Roussillon, where he founded Matassa in 2003. In a corner of France where the sun beats down mercilessly and the tramontana sweeps the vineyards with fury, Lubbe has built, almost single-handedly, one of the most fascinating wineries in the world of natural wine.
Matassa is not just a winery; it is a manifesto of absolute respect for the land, the vines and the purest expression of terroir. There are no pre-established formulas or superfluous interventions here: only a titanic effort to understand and enhance the essence of each plot, each vine and each vintage. Lubbe does not follow fashions or dogmas, but it has become one of the great benchmarks of contemporary natural wine.
A wild paradise for the vineyard
Located in French Catalonia, near Perpignan, the Matassa vineyards are planted on poor soils, mostly schist and limestone, with centuries-old vines of native varieties such as Macabeo, Garnacha Gris and Cariñena. Old vines, with tiny yields, which have survived an extreme climate and which produce wines of breathtaking purity.
Here, viticulture is an exercise in patience and sensitivity. The vines are worked organically and biodynamically, without herbicides or synthetic products. Everything is done by hand, with a meticulous attention that borders on obsession. Lubbe firmly believes that the key lies in the natural balance of the vineyard and minimal intervention in the winery. "Less is more" is the guiding principle, but achieving this requires a deep understanding of each plot and exceptional winemaking skills.
The raw expression of Roussillon
Matassa wines are radical in their honesty. They do not seek to impress with opulence or technical artifice; rather, they capture the vibrant energy of the vineyard with almost surgical precision. Lubbe ferments with indigenous yeasts, no temperature control, no corrections, no fining. There is no new wood, no aggressive filtering, just the slow transformation of grapes into wine inside ancient foudres or cement vats.
The result is wines of an unusual freshness for the hot south of France. Electric whites, with sparkling acidity and saline textures, such as the unmistakable Matassa Blanc, made with Macabeo from vines over 100 years old. Ethereal, almost translucent reds, but with a hypnotic depth, such as the Cuvée Marguerite or the elegant Romanissa. Each bottle is a testament to the fact that Roussillon can offer much more than powerful Mediterranean wines; it can be a place of subtlety, precision and absolute purity.
Beyond labels
Matassa has defied all expectations. Lubbe came to this land when natural wine was a marginal curiosity and transformed it into a global phenomenon. Without seeking it, without boasting, simply trusting his instinct and his vision. Today, his wines are coveted on the world's finest tables, but the philosophy remains the same: regenerative agriculture, minimal intervention and an unwavering devotion to authenticity.
In an increasingly industrialised and homogenised wine world, Matassa is a beacon of independence, non-conformism and natural beauty. To drink a Matassa wine is to come into contact with the essential, with the land, with the history of a place and with the passion of a man who has known how to listen to and respect the voice of the vineyard. Few do it with such truth.