In the glass
Aroma: green apple, lemon zest, yeast lees, wild herb
Palate: citrus, yeasty drive, rustic bubbles, saline finish
Aphros' ancestral-method Loureiro Pet-Nat under the Phaunus label, Demeter-certified. Cloudy, yeasty, low-intervention; built for thirst not contemplation.
What it pairs with
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Oysters
Saline pet-nat with high-acid drive and yeasty depth is a textbook oyster match; rustic bubbles add aromatic depth. -
Salt-cured anchovy on toast
Yeast lees and citrus zest meet anchovy umami; high acidity refreshes the palate between bites. -
Bolinhos de bacalhau
Find bolinhos de bacalhau on TableJourney →
The wine's rustic bubbles and lemon zest cut salt-cod fritter oils and refresh the fried texture. -
Aperitif with cured pork
Wild-herb register and yeasty bubbles partner presunto without overpowering the salt-and-fat balance.
History
Phaunus is the Aphros low-intervention sister label, named for the Roman god of nature. The Pet Nat captures Loureiro's natural pre-bottling fermentation in ancestral-method bubbles; bottled as IGT Minho because the DOC requires fully-completed fermentation.
- 2014 — Phaunus Pet Nat launched as Aphros' ancestral-method Loureiro under the natural-wine sister label
Facts
- Producer
- Aphros Wine (Phaunus label)
- Grapes
- Loureiro (100%)
- Classification
- IGT Minho
- Oak
- Native-yeast ancestral-method; no dosage; bottled before primary fermentation completes
- ABV
- 11.0%
- Price
- EUR 18 to 26 at retail
- Drinking window
- 0-3 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2014
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Phaunus Pet Nat
What does Phaunus Pet Nat taste like?
Green apple, lemon zest, yeast lees and wild herb on the nose; citrus, yeasty drive, rustic bubbles and a saline finish on the palate. Light-bodied with high acidity and a medium close.
What is ancestral-method sparkling wine?
Ancestral-method (or methode ancestrale) wines are bottled before primary fermentation completes, so the remaining sugar refermenters in bottle and creates natural carbonation. Cloudier and yeastier than traditional-method bubbles.
Why is Phaunus Pet Nat bottled as IGT Minho rather than DOC?
The DOC Vinho Verde rules require fully-completed protected fermentation. Ancestral-method bottling captures fermentation in progress and falls outside DOC, so the wine is bottled as IGT Minho.
What food pairs with Phaunus Pet Nat?
Oysters, salt-cured anchovy on toast, salt-cod fritters and presunto aperitif boards. The yeasty saline drive is built for raw shellfish and Minho aperitivo.