2021 Manx – Aries Wines.
From the steep terraces of Switzerland’s Valais region comes a red wine that defies classification, yet speaks fluently the language of terroir. The 2021 Manx by Aries Wines is an Alpine original—an aromatic, textured red born from a blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Petite Arvine, co-fermented and left largely to its own natural devices. It’s as much a philosophical statement as it is a wine.
Made by Paul Boeuf, a winemaker shaped by years of biodynamic practice in Burgundy (Drouhin, Roulot), Patagonia (Chacra), and now the Swiss Alps, Manx is a nod to both freedom and precision. Fermented without intervention, bottled unfiltered and unfined, and with minimal sulfur, this is a living wine—vibrant, raw-edged, and deeply expressive of place.
About the Winery
Aries Wines is the passion project of French-born winemaker Paul Boeuf. After earning his degree in Agriculture and Sustainable Viticulture in Lille and cutting his teeth at Maison Joseph Drouhin and Domaine Roulot, Paul relocated to Switzerland’s Valais, drawn by the dramatic mountain terrain and its patchwork of ancient, high-altitude vineyards.
Founded in 2020, Aries Wines is a culmination of Boeuf’s philosophy: wines should reflect the land, not the hand. He sources grapes from organically farmed plots of Domaine Jean-René Germanier, applying strict biodynamic principles and low-intervention winemaking to craft small-batch cuvées of exceptional clarity. His reds and whites show finesse reminiscent of Burgundy, yet with a distinctive Valais soul.
About the Wine
A co-fermentation of Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Petite Arvine? It sounds eccentric—and it is—but the 2021 Manx pulls it off with graceful irreverence.
Tasted in May 2025, the wine opens with an expressive nose of crushed red berries, dried rose petals, Sichuan pepper, and a whisper of Alpine herbs. Hints of wild strawberry and pomegranate are framed by a subtle earthiness and a faint, ethereal lift from the Arvine. There’s a touch of reduction on opening—true to its minimal handling—but it quickly gives way to clarity and perfume.
On the palate, Manx is vibrant and juicy, with a fine line of acidity carrying flavors of red cherry, cranberry, blood orange zest, and liquorice root. There’s a sapid, almost salty core here, lending tension and length. The tannins are whisper-fine yet persistent, wrapping around the fruit like silk soaked in mountain air. Despite its playful energy, the wine finishes with a serious mineral grip—pure, chalky, and mouth-watering.
There’s an internal balance to this wine that feels instinctual rather than engineered. The blending of red and white grapes results not in confusion, but cohesion—like a mountain stream that merges three sources into one fluent current.
Conclusion
The 2021 Manx is more than a blend; it’s a narrative—of experimentation, elevation, and place. It stands apart as a Valais original, full of soul and spontaneity. A wine for those who appreciate structure laced with surprise, and purity informed by philosophy. This is Alpine wine at its most compelling: honest, unpolished, and impossible to replicate.
We award this wine a 91-point DWA Score—a dynamic and characterful red that signals Aries Wines as one of the most exciting new names in Swiss wine.
This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. Aries Wines are distributed by Best of Wines, and available through their online shop.
Price: ~€52,00
Taste Date: May 2025
Glass: Spiegelau Definition Universal
Score: 91/100 DWA Score
Website: Aries Wines