Confirm your age
You must be at least 18 years old to browse this site.
Sort by:
2252 products
2252 products
Cuvée 0.72+ Red 2019
De Vini
With a slightly dark ruby color and faded rose tones, this is a red wine that should logically catch your eye for your greatest pleasure: this cuvée 0.72+ red comes from very different terroirs than its white equivalent (which we also offer). The vines from which it comes, 80% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah and 10% Viognier, are located in the Côtes du Rhône region, in Rochefort-du-Gard, and grow on a soil of rolled pebbles that is not without points in common with that of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is only a few kilometers away on the other bank of the Rhône. The presence of a white grape variety - Viognier - in this red blend gives this wine a great originality, a floral side that hovers over the entire organoleptic experience: there are faded rose petals on both the nose and the palate, as well as a fairly strong tendency towards white flowers (Viognier, again). There is also a little prune and a complex, though light, aromatic structure. This is a beautiful wine that was long overdue and which is currently at its peak, with beautifully melted tannins and many more years ahead of it. Great length, great structure on the palate, and a pleasant salivating side. Viognier is an inspiration from the Northern Côtes-du-Rhône adapted to the Southern Côtes-du-Rhône, and red blends featuring white grape varieties are an increasingly common occurrence in the world of natural wines. As for the cultivation and vinification, the vines are managed biodynamically and the grapes were macerated for two weeks with care: no pumping over, no crushing, as little intervention as possible. Just a little punching down, no more than necessary. If the name of the cuvée intrigues you, be aware that following a small technical incident during bottling, it does not contain exactly the standard quantity. This detail should not worry you, because in this case, 72 cl is a maximum: most bottles require between 1 and 3 cl to reach 75, which is very little. Don't let the fluidity and delicacy of this wine fool you either; it's actually a solid wine that will pair well with solid dishes like roast wild boar and anything with truffles.
Orange White 2022,
A complex and structured orange wine, an ode to Gewurztraminer
The Orange 2022, produced by Domaine Einhart, is a captivating cuvée that explores the full richness of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. This orange wine, obtained through a week of destemmed maceration, fully expresses the aromatic potential and tannic structure of the grape variety. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for a month in stainless steel vats, this wine reveals a perfect balance between power, freshness, and minerality.
A generous and captivating tasting
From the first nose, the Orange 2022 seduces with its complexity. Aromas of dried apricot, fig, and mandarin intertwine with exotic touches of pineapple and passion fruit. On the palate, the attack is full and structured, with a slightly tannic texture that adds depth. The basalt minerality unfolds elegantly, supported by a vibrant freshness. The finish is long and persistent, marked by notes of honey and orange blossom, offering a unique and intense sensory experience.
An exceptional gastronomic wine
L’Orange 2022 is ideal for accompanying bold and refined dishes. It pairs perfectly with game birds, roasted white meats, or root vegetables such as celeriac and cabbage. Its powerful aromas also allow it to enhance mature cheeses or dishes with mild spices. Served between 8 and 10°C after decanting, this wine will reveal all its nuances and richness.
With an aging potential of 5 years, this vintage will be able to evolve in the bottle, gaining even more complexity and finesse.
La barrique du chat botté Red 2017
Lindenlaub
Bright, savory, fresh, and deep, this wine goes down fast. This Cuvée du Chat is a still red wine made from Alsace Pinot Noir, cultivated and vinified by Christophe Lindenlaub. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Sempel and Thomen plots, facing south on the Stierkopf terroir. These plots contain the oldest Pinot Noir vines on the Lindenlaub estate. The clay-limestone soil on a sandstone substrate refines and accentuates the wine's clarity, giving it a straightforward personality and plenty of character. The grapes spend two weeks in maceration tanks to extract their color, then age in stainless steel tanks. This vintage comes from the Lindenlaub estate via the Parisian-Burgundian wine merchant Le Chat botté & Co, which selects beautiful bottles each year for its “La Barrique du Chat botté” series, illustrated with a collector’s label.
Find out more
Christophe Lindenlaub succeeds his father Jacques at the head of their twelve-hectare wine estate, cultivated by their family for almost three centuries. Viticulture there dates back two centuries, the activity previously being mixed. The Lindenlaub estate is located in the village of Dorlisheim, near Molsheim and Mutzig, on splendid clay-limestone terroirs on sandstone bedrock. All the classic Alsatian grape varieties are cultivated, and all types of Alsace wines are produced, from still red or white wines to oxidative wines, pet' nat', sweet late harvest wines, crémant, and maceration wines. Christophe's commitment to making wines as close to nature as possible, with complete respect for the terroir, gradually led him to convert the estate—certified organic since 2012—to natural viticulture and vinification. A testament to this goal is the Ensö range, six natural single-varietal cuvées, under the sign of the Chinese ink circle specific to Zen mysticism. This series, Christophe explains, was born from a quest for personal fulfillment and the desire to impart an extra touch of soul to his wines.
Festejar Sparkling Rosé 2021
Patrick Bouju
Its beautiful light coral (almost red) color already makes you thirsty, and its freshness hits the mark every time. "To celebrate" is the meaning of festejar in Occitan: this is a clear indication of the use of this natural sparkling rosé wine made from Gamay from Auvergne (with a little Merlot from Côtes-de-Blaye as a minority grape variety), but many others can be found. Its scope is dizzyingly broad, as it is a thirst-quenching wine combined with a complex vintage, superimposing very fine bubbles, a fine and delicious acidity, a touch of spice and white pepper, a slight sweetness, a slight yeasty note and a structuring bitterness. Perfect for an aperitif with friends, perfect for the table, perfect for thirst: an all-terrain vehicle for the greatest joy of all. This semi-dry natural sparkling wine is available in rosé and white. For the rosé, after pressing and settling, the Gamay musts are fermented at low temperature in vats for five to six weeks before being bottled, placed in the cellar on racks for secondary fermentation. Fermentation stops under the effect of pressure and the wine is disgorged by hand, then recapped. Uncork with caution due to its effervescence and drink well chilled.
Find out more
Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises eastward to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered with vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves native grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and also works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes a lot to Patrick. The fact that he likes to lend a hand to his winegrower friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the A la Natural series, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick has found that his own wines do very well without them. He has also observed that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, the balance is achieved on its own, regardless of the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Basse-Auvergne and its volcanic soils.
Sereibroc Red 2015
Sereibroc is Corbières in reverse. Centuries-old Carignan vines and a few Grenache vines, both growing on red clay soils well exposed to the sun and the tramontane winds, produced this powerful yet fresh wine, with lovely acidity, beautiful animal notes, and earthy, fruity, and candied aromas (cocoa, prune, fig). The harvest macerates for ninety days in concrete vats, and the wine spends two years in bottles. Extended decanting is recommended.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Susucaru Blanc 2024
Description
With Susucaru Bianco 2024, Frank Cornelissen offers an approachable white wine while maintaining the identity that has made his wines famous. Primarily made from Catarratto, complemented by Carricante and Grecanico Dorato, this wine offers a fresh and saline interpretation of Sicily. The nose reveals notes of citrus, crisp apple, pear, and white flowers, enhanced by a delicate mineral touch. On the palate, it is vibrant, precise, and particularly refreshing, with a taut finish that immediately calls for a second sip.
Winemaking
A blend of 40% Catarratto Extra Lucido, 30% Carricante, and 30% Grecanico Dorato. Destemmed, lightly crushed, then fermented with a pied de cuve using only indigenous yeasts. Approximately 3 hours of skin maceration, followed by 10 months aging in neutral tanks (epoxy). Unfined, lightly filtered before bottling.
Pet Nat, Sparkling Rosé 2022
Domaine Bélicard
Here's a sparkling wine that effervesces with authenticity and immediate pleasure. With this Rosé Pet Nat 2022, Domaine Bélicard, a winemaker committed to organic farming in Beaujolais, captures the summer spirit in a bottle. This 100% Gamay natural sparkling wine combines freshness, fruit, and lightness, in a joyful style, without artifice or additives.
A natural, frank, and free sparkling rosé
The Gamay here is harvested in whole bunches, then subjected to short maceration to extract just enough color and substance. Fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, then continues in the bottle, according to the ancestral method principle. No added sulfites, no dosage, and no selected yeasts: it's a living, raw wine, all in spontaneity. It is aged for about two years before release, giving it balance and stability.
A tonic and fruity profile
Pale pink color, slightly hazy, fine and natural mousse, and on the nose, notes of small red berries, pomegranate, and a delicate floral touch. On the palate, the bubbles are soft, the body light, with a tangy and refreshing finish that makes you want more. The whole is digestible, thirst-quenching, and incredibly delicious.
To drink without ceremony
Serve it chilled (10–12 °C), without decanting, as an aperitif or to accompany simple summer cuisine: salads, fresh cheeses, light grilled dishes... This wine is best drunk young, but its liveliness also allows it to age gracefully for 5 to 10 years. A pet' nat' that makes your evenings sparkle.
Octave (exclusive vintage) White 2023,
Sous le Vegetal
Sous le Végétal, our own iconic estate on the island of Samos, delivers with Octave 2023 a pure and vibrant interpretation of Muscat Petit Grain. A new vintage of this already iconic vintage, this bottle is produced using whole-bunch maceration, this white wine reveals a fascinating complexity, both floral and mineral.
An exceptional Muscat, between freshness and depth
Thanks to natural vinification, without artifice, and meticulous work on indigenous yeasts, this wine reveals the full expression of the Samos terroir. Whole bunch maceration gives it texture and structure, while maintaining superb tension.
An expressive nose and a chiseled palate
The nose reveals intense notes of white flowers, citrus fruits and sweet spices, accompanied by a beautiful saline minerality. On the palate, it offers a fresh and ample attack, with a beautiful acidity and a lingering finish on notes of candied zest and aromatic herbs.
How to enjoy Octave?
Ideal at 10-12°C and decanted before tasting, Octave will perfectly accompany seafood, fish ceviche or poultry with citrus fruits. Its aging potential of 5 to 10 years will allow it to evolve towards even more complex aromas.
Fleurie Grand-Pré Red 2019,
Domaine Bélicard
Nestled in the heart of Beaujolais, the Fleurie AOP appellation is renowned for its elegant and floral wines. Domaine Bélicard, certified organic (AB), delivers a remarkably fine cuvée, produced from 36-year-old vines planted in granite soils.
A Fleurie of elegance and depth
Vinified using traditional whole-bunch maceration in old wooden vats, this wine benefits from gentle extraction, respecting all the delicacy of Gamay Noir. Its 4-day aging preserves the freshness and pure expression of the terroir.
A floral nose and a full palate
From the first nose, this organic Fleurie reveals deep aromas of candied red fruits, enhanced with floral and spicy notes. On the palate, the balance is perfect between roundness and finesse, with an elegant and persistent finish.
What to enjoy this wine with?
Ideal at 14-16°C, this wine goes wonderfully with grilled fish, salads and barbecues. Its 5-year aging potential will allow for a beautiful aromatic evolution.
€45,00
Unit price per€45,00
Unit price perConcerto Red 2021
Concerto is an organic and natural red wine from the terroirs north of the Loire (Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir). It bears the distinctive mark of Pineau d'Aunis, the grape variety from which it is made, as well as the inimitable touch of its creator, Jean-Pierre Robinot.
In the vineyard and in the winery
Through Concerto, master winemaker Jean-Pierre Robinot showcases Pineau d'Aunis grown on limestone soils. The harvest is carried out by hand and vinified in whole bunches with three weeks of maceration, which gives the wine body. Aged for a year in old barrels.
Tasting
All the typical characteristics of Pineau d'Aunis: spices, cranberry, pomegranate, and a touch of raspberry. Limestone and mineral notes, a touch of undergrowth, a touch of yeast and butter, a pure and light color. A touch of menthol and black pepper on the palate. Drink with a good roast beef or lamb, a delicately roasted pigeon, charcuterie, cured meats, and even uninhibited fish such as smoked mackerel or any other smoked seafood.
Learn more about Jean-Pierre Robinot
Anyone interested in natural wine in France has crossed paths with Jean-Pierre Robinot and has never forgotten this smiling, bouncing figure. Although it has not yet been proven that all wines resemble their winemaker (a study to be undertaken), the organic and natural wines produced by Jean-Pierre, warm, friendly and luminous, are in the image of their creator. After running the wine bar L’Ange Vin for nearly fifteen years, on rue Richard-Lenoir in Paris, Jean-Pierre returned to his native Chahaignes, a small village in the south of Sarthe. His dream is to acquire his vineyard and make natural wines, without added sulfites.
Great terroirs of the Loir and tuffeau cellars
Jean-Pierre therefore reclaims hillside wasteland, on great terroirs, as well as troglodyte cellars dug into the tuffeau. 2002 will be his first vintage. At the same time, under the brand L’Opéra des vins, he vinifies organic grapes purchased from local winemakers. A member of the S.A.I.N.S. natural viticulture association, Jean-Pierre Robinot practices strict organic viticulture practices, without chemical weeding or the addition of sulfites. The soil is worked and amended with natural composts. All harvests, carried out at maturity on healthy grapes, are done by hand. The location and climate favor noble rot.
Auguste (exclusive vintage) Red 2022
Sous le Végétal
Organic and natural, Auguste takes its name from the indigenous Greek avgoustiatis grape variety, from which it is made entirely. It is, for now, the only dry red wine from the Sous le Végétal project, led on the Greek island of Samos by Patrick Bouju. The vines grow on the foothills of Mount Karvounis, not far from the village of Pagondas. The wine is a blend of four types of rock on two plots. The avgoustiatis grape variety ("the august") is a rare variety, the first red grape variety harvested in Greece. It is grown organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines, pruned in goblet form, are harvested by hand on the early morning of August 15th.
Vinification
The wine is first obtained by a forty-day maceration of whole bunches in stainless steel vats. Half of the vinification is done in 500-liter Stockinger barrels and the other half in ovoid concrete vats. This wine from the Samos terroir is completely additive-free, unfiltered and bottled by gravity. The black bottle ensures the wine ages and the closure is made with a cork sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.
Tasting
Auguste is a light red wine with no additives or added sulfites which, through its Mediterranean nature, recalls something of the reds of the Jura: characteristic earthy and mineral notes, lots of character - prune, clove, anise, vanilla, cherry jam, rich tannins and, on the finish, a salinity due to the mineral-rich soils (particularly schist and limestone) of the island of Samos. The fruity notes remain taut and elegant. Decanting is recommended. Auguste will enjoy all the meze and hors d'oeuvres from the land or the sea. A charcuterie from Maison Montalet or from Ferme de Mayrinhac (for example a galabard black pudding) will suit him like a glove, or even smoked scallops (Salmon de France).
Learn more about Sous le Végétal
Under the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural vintages exclusively from Culinaries, created in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team gathered around Patrick Bouju. Sous le Végétal also takes under its wing the vintages A la Natural signed Patrick Bouju.
History
Sous le Végétal marks the rebirth of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the eastern Aegean Sea with its dense, wooded vegetation. This rich plant life covers a unique and varied subsoil: volcanic rocks (basalts), limestone, quartz, pink granites, schists, iron cast iron... In Sous le Végétal, the winemakers of Samos rediscover the wine they made in their childhood, proving once again that natural wine allows, through innovative projects, to reconnect with forgotten traditions.
Grape varieties and vinification
Four of the seven vintages of Sous le Végétal — Livia, Hüpnos, Octave, Palli & Genesia and Auguste — are produced on around sixty plots of Samos muscat à petits grains between 400 and 910 meters above sea level. The other vintages, Auguste, Alexandre and Sémélé, are respectively based on avgoustiatis, asyrtiko and a blend of Samos muscat and avgoustiatis. Each plot is vinified separately. Four types of winemaking containers are used: amphorae, concrete eggs, stainless steel vats, and 500-liter barrels. Each plot is vinified in at least two of the four containers, and the wine is aged in black, wax-sealed bottles. No sulfur is added or filtration is performed.
Octave (exclusive vintage) White 2022,
Sous le Végétal
Octave is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine from the terroir of the island of Samos, in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is a vintage belonging to the Sous le Végétal project, exclusively for Culinaries, created by Patrick Bouju on the island of Samos (Greece). Octave is made entirely from Samos small grain muscat grown in the localities of Pagondas, Karvounis and Platanos — eight plots from four terroirs, okto meaning “eight” in Greek.
Eight plots, four terroirs
Octave reflects the mineral variety of the island of Samos through these eight plots from which it comes: the salinity of the limestone, the freshness of the quartz, the austerity of the basalt and the tension of the schist. The iodized aromas of the muscat remain elegant, avoiding the heaviness of the grape variety. Octave is a complex natural wine that extends into a mineral finish. It will flourish in a carafe and will be very comfortable with seafood products such as the specialties of Saumon de France (smoked fish and rillettes) or oysters from Yvonnick Jegat or from the Ferme marine d’Artouan.
In the vineyard and at the cellar
The vines are harvested by hand in the early morning, and the grapes are macerated in whole bunches. The free-run juice is vinified without pumping over, aeration, or stabilization. Only settling and topping up are carried out. Fermentation takes place in 750-liter amphorae and 1,400-liter concrete eggs. Octave is without additives, unfiltered, and bottled by gravity; the black bottles are used for aging and maturation. Around the (organic) cap, the closure is made of paraffin and black beeswax.
Learn more about Sous le Végétal
Under the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural vintages exclusively from Culinaries, created in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team gathered around Patrick Bouju. Sous le Végétal also takes under its wing the vintages A la Natural signed Patrick Bouju.
History
Sous le Végétal marks the rebirth of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the eastern Aegean Sea with its dense, wooded vegetation. This rich plant life covers a unique and varied subsoil: volcanic rocks (basalts), limestone, quartz, pink granites, schists, iron cast iron... In Sous le Végétal, the winemakers of Samos rediscover the wine they made in their childhood, proving once again that natural wine allows, through innovative projects, to reconnect with forgotten traditions.
Grape varieties and vinification
Four of the seven vintages of Sous le Végétal — Livia, Hüpnos, Octave, Palli & Genesia and Auguste — are produced on around sixty plots of Samos muscat à petits grains between 400 and 910 meters above sea level. The other vintages, Auguste, Alexandre and Sémélé, are respectively based on avgoustiatis, asyrtiko and a blend of Samos muscat and avgoustiatis. Each plot is vinified separately. Four types of winemaking containers are used: amphorae, concrete eggs, stainless steel vats, and 500-liter barrels. Each plot is vinified in at least two of the four containers, and the wine is aged in black, wax-sealed bottles. No sulfites are added, and no filtration is used.
Palli et Genesia (exclusive vintage) White 2022
Fine, delicate, fresh, and deliciously muscatel-like, Palli & Genesià is an organic, biodynamic, and natural wine with no additives or sulfites. It is one of five white vintages in the Sous le Végétal series, and, like three others, is made from small-grain Muscat grapes from the island of Samos (an archipelago in the eastern Aegean). It expresses all the minerality of the pink granite soil from which it is made. Palli & Genesià Genesià comes from vines planted near the village of Platanos, pruned en goblet on an old vineyard, abandoned and brought back to life—hence its name, derived from palingenesià, “rebirth” in Greek. The vines are cultivated organically in conversion to permaculture, without any additives in the vineyard or the cellar, and the harvest is manual. As with all other Sous le Végétal cuvée, fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and terracotta amphorae. The wine is bottled by gravity and sealed with a black beeswax cork. The black glass bottle guarantees aging. Palli & Genesià is the perfect accompaniment to seafood and Eastern Mediterranean meze. You can open it with friends to enjoy tapas or seafood starters: we suggest, for example, preserves from Calle El Tato. Palli & Genesià will also go very well with cheeses, for example the Auvergne tommes and fourmes from Ferme Pradel.
Learn more about Sous le Végétal
Beneath the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural vintages exclusively from Culinaries, created in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team gathered around Patrick Bouju. Sous le Végétal also takes under its wing the vintages A la Natural signed Patrick Bouju.
History
Sous le Végétal marks the rebirth of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the eastern Aegean Sea with its dense, wooded vegetation. This rich plant life covers a unique and varied subsoil: volcanic rocks (basalts), limestone, quartz, pink granites, schists, iron cast iron... In Sous le Végétal, the winemakers of Samos rediscover the wine they made in their childhood, proving once again that natural wine allows, through innovative projects, to reconnect with forgotten traditions.
Grape varieties and vinification
Four of the seven vintages of Sous le Végétal — Livia, Hüpnos, Octave, Palli & Genesia and Auguste — are produced on around sixty plots of Samos muscat à petits grains between 400 and 910 meters above sea level. The other vintages, Auguste, Alexandre and Sémélé, are respectively based on avgoustiatis, asyrtiko and a blend of Samos muscat and avgoustiatis. Each plot is vinified separately. Four types of winemaking containers are used: amphorae, concrete eggs, stainless steel vats, and 500-liter barrels. Each plot is vinified in at least two of the four containers, and the wine is aged in black, wax-sealed bottles. No sulfur is added or filtration is performed.
Sémélé Rosé 2022
Sémélé, exclusively from Culinaries, is an organic and natural rosé wine from the island of Samos (Greece) that is part of Patrick Bouju's Sous le Végétal project in partnership with Culinaries. Its name alludes to the myth of Semele, mistress of Zeus and mother of Dionysus, god of Wine and Intoxication.
In the Vineyard
Sous le Végétal vintages are primarily based on Samos Muscat à petits grains and, more rarely, on other local grape varieties. Here, the red Avgoustiatis grape variety is blended in equal parts with Muscat. The vines are managed biodynamically and in permaculture.
In the cellar
A blend of avgoustiatis (a very common red grape variety in Greece) macerated for a week and directly pressed muscat, all organic, Sémélé is neither filtered nor fined.
Tasting
With its deep, lively and seductive color, its fruitiness of strawberry and raspberry and its lovely tannins, Sémélé is a natural rosé that leans towards a light red. It will go well with tapas, mezes, starters and Mediterranean dishes: we recommend pairing it with taramas by Lionel Durot, with smoked fish or seafood hors d'oeuvres by Saumon de France, or with the delicious poutargue de Martigues by Frédéric Paez.
Learn more about Sous le Végétal
Under the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural and additive-free vintages exclusively for Culinaries, produced in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team gathered around Patrick Bouju. Sous le Végétal also takes under its wing the vintages A la Natural signed by Patrick Bouju.
History (and geography)
Sous le Végétal marks the rebirth of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the eastern Aegean Sea with its dense, wooded vegetation. This rich plant life covers a unique and varied subsoil: volcanic rocks (basalts), limestone, quartz, pink granites, schists, iron cast iron... In Sous le Végétal, the winemakers of Samos rediscover the wine they made in their childhood, proving once again that natural wine allows, through innovative projects, to reconnect with forgotten traditions.
Grape varieties and vinification
Four of the seven vintages of Sous le Végétal — Livia, Hüpnos, Octave, Palli & Genesia and Auguste — are produced on around sixty plots of Samos muscat à petits grains between 400 and 910 meters above sea level. The other vintages, Auguste, Alexandre and Sémélé, are respectively based on avgoustiatis or asyrtiko, blended or not with Samos muscat. Each plot is vinified separately. Four types of winemaking containers are used: amphorae, concrete eggs, stainless steel vats, and 500-liter barrels. Each lieu-dit is vinified in at least two of the four containers, and the wine is aged in black, wax-sealed bottles. No sulfites are added or filtration is performed.
P Red 2022
With the initialed cuvées (trading cuvées) of master Patrick Bouju, we are all beginning to learn our alphabet. Here, in the presence of this supple, deep, mineral, and complex wine, we have the letter P. P is for Pinot Noir, and not just any Pinot Noir! A Pinot Noir from vines growing on the legendary Gergovie plateau, where long ago Vercingetorix won a memorable victory. Now, it is the vine that triumphs on the beautiful basalt soils of this volcanic region of Puy-de-Dôme. The harvest is macerated in whole bunches and vinified with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats. In any case, it's very good, it tastes wonderful, and it's perfect for any occasion.
Find out more
Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises eastward to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered in vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep, and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone, and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves native grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and also works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes a lot to Patrick. The fact that he likes to lend a hand to his winegrower friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the A la Natural series, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick has found that his own wines do very well without them. He has also observed that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, the balance is achieved on its own, regardless of the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Basse-Auvergne and its volcanic soils.
Alba Blanc 2021,
De Vini
Alba is a dry white wine typical of the Loire estuary: low alcohol (10.5% alcohol), very mineral, very dry, a straightforward, high-quality white. Not exactly "natural," in the words of its creator, it "glides along easily." Christophe Bosque adds that 2021 was the frost of the century, with ridiculous yields but high concentrations and high-quality grapes. "We have few, but it's very good. A high-quality vintage." Alba comes from 100% gabbro soil, and is composed of Melon de Bourgogne (90%) and Folle Blanche (10%), the two emblematic Muscadet grape varieties. The grapes are pressed directly and fermented in buried concrete vats, Nantes-style, lined with sandstone tiles, and in sandstone amphorae. Aging is also done in vats, and bottling was done in spring 2022. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard or the cellar, and no sulfiting is used. A roughing-out (very light filtration) is practiced.
To find out more
The De Vini, Vinilibre estate is the multi-faceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine, and after spending years as a merchant, importer, and then wine merchant, this former cameraman trained in oenology and viticulture acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, in Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson, in 2017. The soils are made up of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, notably in Languedoc, but the winemaker retains a special affection for his vines, which he maintains with passion and attention to the terroir. A touch of humor and a sense of pun can be seen on his labels and in his appellations, but in the bottle, it's serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his vineyard of some two hectares and fermented in underground vats in the Nantes style—a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural mode.
Auguste Red 2018
Auguste is the Roman emperor, and it's also the grape variety. The only dry red in the project, it reflects the salinity of the schist and the freshness and acidity of the quartz. Its cherry and red fruit aromas remain elegant and taut, with rich tannins. A long, full wine with a saline finish. Decanting is recommended.
Where?
Village of Pagondas, on the foothills of Mount Karvounis, not far from the Heraion of Samos. Schist and quartz soils. The wine is made from a blend of
four types of rock on two plots.
The vines
The avgoustiatis grape variety ("the august") is interplanted with the muscats of the Livia cuvée, another reason for its name. Avgoustiatis is a rare variety, the first red grape variety harvested in Greece. It is grown organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines, pruned in goblet form, are harvested by hand on the morning of August 15th.
Vinification
Free-run juice obtained by maceration in stainless steel vats by diffusion for forty days, whole bunches. No aeration or stabilization: only settling, pumping over and topping up are carried out. Half of the vinification is in 500-liter Stockinger barrels and half in ovoid concrete vats. Wine without additives, unfiltered, bottled by gravity and transferred by peristaltic pump into black bottles ensuring aging. Aged in bottles with organic cork without paraffin, sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.
Le Blouge à Nestor Rouge 2022
Domaine Bélicard
With Le Blouge à Nestor 2022, Domaine Bélicard offers us a unique cuvée, resolutely natural, free, and unconventional. The name says it all: a "blouge," a joyful contraction of white (blanc) and red (rouge), made from a blend of Gamay and Chardonnay, both organically grown in Beaujolais. A wine without artifice, to be shared without hesitation.
Here, the focus is on infusion: the hand-harvested grapes are vinified in whole bunches, with semi-carbonic fermentation that preserves all the freshness of the fruit. Maceration is short (about one month), then the wine is aged in wooden vats, with total respect for the juice, without any oenological inputs, using indigenous yeasts and very little, if any, sulfites.
In the glass, Le Blouge à Nestor seduces with its light, almost cloudy ruby color. The nose evokes fresh red fruits, kirsch cherry, spicy notes, and a floral touch. The palate is supple, fluid, incredibly easy-drinking but not simplistic. There's a beautiful liveliness, a light body, melted tannins, and a slightly spicy finish.
This is a wine made for aperitifs with friends, fine charcuterie, a warm salad, tapas, or simply for opening a good bottle without a specific occasion. Le Blouge is pure pleasure in a bottle, with that artisanal and sincere touch one expects from a well-made natural wine.
Eveil Blanc 2023
A dry and vibrant white, combining freshness and conviviality
The Domaine Einhart, a rising star in natural wine in Alsace, offers us here an exclusive cuvée full of character: Éveil 2023. This dry and balanced white, labeled organic, is a tribute to the limestone terroirs and emblematic Alsatian grape varieties. Composed of 35% Riesling, 35% Auxerrois, and 30% Gewurztraminer, this wine expresses all the richness of its loamy, clayey, and limestone soil, grown on plots located on cool, windswept hillsides.
A Tasting Experience in Elegance
With a luminous pale gold color, Éveil 2023 opens with a delicate nose blending subtle aromas of bergamot and white flowers. On the palate, the freshness is pronounced, with a lovely mineral tension and a slight salinity. Its ample texture and slightly spicy aromatic profile make this a white wine that is both lively and generous, supported by beautiful acidity and a lingering finish.
Authentic winemaking
The grapes, hand-harvested in 20kg crates, undergo meticulous treatment in the cellar. After a short 24-hour maceration to initiate fermentation, they are pressed directly. Fermentation is carried out by indigenous yeasts, guaranteeing a pure expression of the fruit and terroir. It is then aged for 8 months in Pinot Noir barrels, on fine lees, to give the wine its balance and depth.
A convivial and versatile wine
Served between 10 and 12°C, this wine is perfect as an aperitif or with plant-based dishes, such as grilled vegetables or fresh salads. Its aging potential of 5 to 10 years will also allow it to evolve into even more complex notes.
A lively and sociable white wine, perfect for awakening the senses!