Les Änes Ailés (Francesco Pesci)

Thank you to importer Louis/Dressner for this estate profile.

Francesco “Kikko” Pesci grew up in Rome. While working at various restaurants, in particular the infamous wine bar Litro, he was introduced to wines that blew his mind, most notably those of Panevino in Sardinia and Ajola in Umbria/Lazio. Ajola’s relative proximity to Rome led to a burgeoning friendship with its founder Jacopo Battista, in turn inspiring Kikko to make wine himself. Up for a new challenge, he found himself an apprenticeship in Banyuls helping Manu di Vecchi Staraz at Vinyer de la Ruca. The plan was to help out for a year, but that year became two, then five… By 2022, Kikko had the opportunity to buy two parcels and start his own project, Les Ânes Ailés. That same year he produced his first vintage as the newest member of Les 9 Caves.

Both of Kikko’s parcels are in the mountain north of Banyuls-sur-Mer, historically a lesser planted area. Both parcels roughly equal a hectare; Kikko had been familiar with the first parcel since arriving in the area, as it used to belong to Manuel of Vinyer de la Ruca. It’s a formidable place that can only be reached by a single, winding and treacherous road. At 300 meters, its elevation is very high for the area. It’s also unique in being exposed full North and majoritarily planted in Grenache Gris. This, combined with strong year-round winds and very low yields, produce two barrels of a singular cuvée called “Kik-Off”.  Kikko plans to replant white grapes here, as he believes the terroir is excellently suited to produce a dry white wine.

The second vineyard, acquired from a retiring farmer, is also terraced.  It too has unique characteristics, namely the presence of sand soils because it is next to a tributary to a river, something very rare in the region. Compared to the gnarled old vines normally seen in Banyuls’ terraces, those closest to the water are almost comically huge. The parcel is also shadowed by the adjacent mountain, maintaining freshness. From this land, a wine called "Ticche" is made with the traditional Banyuls composition: the three colors of Grenache (Blanc, Gris, Noir) and Carignan.

Rounding out the lineup are two wines made from purchased organic grapes. “Arlequin” is 80% Grenache Blanc, 20% Vermentino, sourced from two parcels in Laroque des Albères, a 30 minute drive north of Banyuls. “Pierrot” is 100% Grenache Noir from nearby Calce, picked a bit early and made with minimal maceration to produce an accesible wine meant to drink young.

Oh, and for those that are wondering: Les Ânes Ailés translates to "the winged donkeys". It's an old Italian expression, gli asini volanti, which implies that if you believe donkeys can fly, you are a naive fool. In a moment of personal utopianism, Kikko came up with this name based on how impossible it felt that he'd actually succeeded in starting his own project in the most unprobable of places. In this case, the donkeys actually had wings.