Olivier came to Spain after working with some of the best, Domaine Leroy and Fred Cossard at Domaine de Chassorney. What started as a position in Rioja Alavesa with Telmo Rodriguez in 2004 ended up with him sourcing and acquiring a small organic vineyard in 2006 for his first vintage from which he has slowly grown over time.

From here he has gone on to create an exciting Domaine that is based around fruit purity, freshness and elegant texture that is more akin to Burgundy and the Rhone more than the chewier sweet spice styles of traditional Rioja.

Mirando al Sur is made from Olivier’s oldest vines of Viura (macabeo in other parts of Spain), near the village of Labastida in Rioja Alavesa. It is named Miranda al Sur (Looking South) because it is aged in used Sherry butts after a whole cluster fermentation in oak vats. 

Textural with excellent tension, grilled hazelnuts, yellow spices and some ocean spray set this up deliciously now but with the capacity to age wonderfully thanks to the use of those sherry butts for its elevage, this is where Jerez and Jura meet for great results.