Les Caves de Key Kegs

Key Kegs have been around for some time as a means of dispensing wine, but arguably have only really taken off in the UK in the past three to four years.

The Concept

Essentially a wine preserving bag, inside a keg. As a result, it can be operated using compressed air rather than bulky and costly bottled gas. 

Advantages

• Wine preservation.  The unique design of the laminated foil inner bag, inside a high-tech PET pressurised keg ensures the best possible protection of the wine.  Furthermore, wine is often happier in quantity (barrel vs. bottle as an obvious example) and our standard key keg size is 20L.

• Reduced wastage.  Wine fully protected from one service to the next through the unique technology of the keg and its bespoke coupler.

• Ease of use.  No more struggling with corkscrews or battles with overflowing bottle bins during a busy service.

• Environmentally friendly.  Reduced carbon footprint during transport; reduced mass of waste packaging; recyclable.

Shelf Life

• Minimum 9 months from ‘bottling’.

• Minimum 4-5 weeks once tapped.

For more information on the system, there are a variety of resources and demo videos on the manufacturer’s website: https://www.keykeg.com/en/home

Our Key Kegs

We currently have a selection of organic, biodynamic and natural wines in key keg format and will be adding to this regularly in order that our customers can choose from a range of grape varieties and styles.

Les Caves Key Keg Selection – all 20 litres

There is a saving to be made by buying wine in key keg, but that is not the chief reason to use them. As well as the environmental advantages, there is the ease of dispensing, the preservation of quality, the elimination of wastage. We’ve sought to work with quality wines with producers who can deliver juice made from organically-farmed grapes (where possible) and use minimal sulphites too. Here is our selection to date.

WHITES

2016 Laurent Cazottes Marcotte Blanc – Mauzac, Len de leh – SW France         

Youthful white from Gaillac region, redolent of apple-blossom and dried herbs. Aged on the lees in fibreglass.

2016 Nicolas Reau Chenin « Bonhomme de Chenin » - Loire

Lovely, natural Chenin from Anjou fermented with native yeasts and made with minimal additions, expressing the tension between ripe orchard and fine acidity.

2016 Cadoles Chardonnay, Macon, Domaine des Cadoles – Burgundy  

Brilliant value unoaked Macon from the village of Chardonnay (yes!) in southern Burgundy.

2017 Clos du Tue Boeuf P`tit Blanc (Sauvignon)- Loire                                       

Brisk, energising Sauvignon from Thierry Puzelat. Natural wine.

2017 Ciello Bianco IGT – Sicilia                                                                             

Organic, unfiltered, unfined Catarratto from the Marsala region

2017 Guy Allion Sauvignon Touraine - Loire 

Classic Sauvignon de Touraine, crisp gooseberry and elderflower. Sustainably farmed.

2017 Frentano Bianco - Abruzzo

100% Trebbiano, fresh yellow plums, pears and apples. Organic certifiaction.

REDS

2017 Estezargues Cotes du Rhone Rouge – Southern Rhone                                

Soft, warm, herb-drenched southern Rhone wine, made with native yeasts and bottled without filtration and very small addition of sulphites.

2016 Vina Ilusion Tinto - Rioja                                                                               

From an organically farmed vineyard 700 m a.s.l. in Rioja Baja, a joven-style of red bursting with dark fruit flavours.

2017 Domaine du Palais, Prieur, Cotes Roannaise – Central France                   

Cracking super-juicy little naturally-made Gamay from the region of France near where the Loire rises

2018 Botheland Gamay de France – Beaujolais                                                    

Remi Dufaitre’s Gamays from Beaujolais region have a wonderful linear quality. This is sapid and crunchy. Natural wine.

2017 Clos du Tue Boeuf Vin Rouge – Loire                                                          

From organically grown fruit in the Cheverny region, a wine packed with juicy red berry fruits.

2017 Nicolas Reau VDF Cabernet Franc - Loire

Youthful and fruit-forward cabernet franc. Prominent red fruits, classic Cab Franc profile.

2016 Baglio Rosso IGT – Sicilia                                                                              

100% Nero d’Avola – biodynamic vineyard. Unfiltered, zero sulphur, small black plum fruits, hints of bitter chocolate leavened by bonny acidity.

2016 Frentano Rosso - Abruzzo

100% Montepulciano. Purplish hue, soft intergrated tannins, marasca cherry notes. Organic certification.

Photos: Laurent Cazottes and vineyard at Estezargues.

Interested in finding more about our key kegs? Contact us directly:

 [email protected] | 01483 538820