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Retour des Hirondelles Red 2023

La Tribu Alonso
Retour des Hirondelles is an organic and natural red wine with no added sulfites, 100% Gamay, produced by Cyril Alonso in Marchampt, in the terroirs of Beaujolais Vert. Classified as a Vin de France, its name celebrates the return in 2023 of the swallows that had disappeared in 2015. The forest surrounding the estate is classified as a LPP refuge (bird protection), so the cultural precautions and concern for the environment of the Alonso Tribe have borne fruit.

Vinification
Thirty-one different Gamay varieties grow on a half-hectare plot on granite soils, and this Return of the Swallows contains them all. The grass cover is wild and the vines, aged from four to fifty years, are pruned in goblet form, cultivated using organic farming and agroforestry. The harvest, which is manual, is processed in free-run juice (the grapes give their juice under their own weight), without pressing, and ferments with indigenous yeasts without a starter culture. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation takes place in fiberglass vats. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard or the winery.

Tasting
Made solely from free-run juice, Le Retour des Hirondelles is an organic and natural wine of great clarity, very refreshing, very clear, with a beautiful acidity marked by citrus flavors. There are no phenolic traces and the tannins are very soft. Notes of kirsch cherry, clementine, candied orange peel. This wine will be perfect for an aperitif and to accompany all meals. Charcuterie, cured meats (especially Lyonnaise), lamb, everything suits it, and especially good times with friends.

Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.

A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.

The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.

Pinot Noir Red 2022

Domaine Einhart
Pinot Noir—it's all in the title—is a red wine from the Alsatian terroir, organic (Ecocert and AB labels) and natural, made from Pinot Noir. Classified as AOC Alsace, it is a model of its kind, much fuller-bodied and robust than the average Alsatian Pinot Noir. A serious wine that makes you happy.

Vinification
The thirty-year-old Pinot Noirs from which this wine is made grow on the muschelkalk (shell limestone) terroirs of Dittelsberg-Albermohn and are harvested by hand, then destemmed. Maceration, using indigenous yeasts, takes place over two weeks. Aging for one year on fine lees, in demi-muids, precedes bottling without filtration. From the vine to the cellar, this wine was made without any chemical additives or added sulfites.

Tasting
The deep, purplish color of this Pinot Noir from the Einhart estate evokes black cherry: it is a velvety, ripe red, 100% Pinot Noir, with an intense, fragrant, and gently fruity aroma. The first nose is enhanced by aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry) with a hint of freshness blended into a light vanilla woodiness. The second nose is more open, with aromas of blood orange, bitter almond, and kirsch. On the palate, the small fruits are still there, supported by present but well-melted tannins, and lead to a velvety finish resting on a lovely freshness. Plenty of persistence and length. Decant to express all its finesse and grace, and serve with red meats, roasts, stews, charcuterie and cured meats.

Learn more about Domaine Einhart
In the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, Domaine Einhart is a ten-hectare family estate whose vines grow on the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, or shell limestone and oolitic limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone).

A family estate
Since 1990, Nicolas Einhart has been at the helm, now assisted by his son Théo. True to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without inputs, refusing harmful phytosanitary products, and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic (Ecocert and AB) since 2011. The estate produces white wines from maceration or direct pressing and a Pinot Noir red.

The best of Alsatian terroirs
Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the bunches, light punching down, and delicate pressing are characteristic of the estate, as well as the separate vinification of each terroir, aging on lees, and the absence of filtration before bottling. The wines are pure grapes, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of these very beautiful terroirs in the Vosges foothills.

Antenet Rosé, Rosé 2022,

Danis dans la vigne
Antenet rosé is an organic and natural Cahors wine, made by Danis Bessières of Danis dans la vigne. Classified as a Vin de France, it is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Egiodola.

Vinification
The technique used here is saignée rosé, which produces wines with a deep color. The Egiodola grape variety, which makes up half of this Antenet rosé, was created in 1954 at the INRA in Bordeaux by Basque agronomist Marcel Durquety. It produces fairly tannic, floral and intense wines, and makes it possible to obtain excellent rosés.

Tasting
Antenet rosé is atypical: it is not a poolside rosé but a table and gastronomy rosé, in addition to being a good aperitif wine. Its very dark color testifies to this. Rich in substance, it coats the mouth well and emits notes of citrus rather than flowers. It evokes blackcurrant, redcurrant, grapefruit pulp and orange peel. Rich and quite alcoholic, with great acidity. Pairs well with many dishes, not just summer salads.

Learn more about Danis dans la vigne
Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1980s.

Organic and natural since 1983
Danis respects the principles established in the vineyard and winery by his grandfather and then his father: making wines without additives, organic and natural, from local grape varieties while respecting the environment. It was in 1983 that his grandfather obtained the Lemaire-Boucher organic label, followed by Nature & Progrès and then the AB and Eurofeuille organic labels. Danis Bessières continues in this vein.

Malbec, but not only
Malbec reigns supreme in the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot, and recently created grape varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Colombard as single-varietals. These experiments allow him to moderate the density and opacity of the main grape variety.

P'tit Grobis Blanc 2022,

Nicolas Chemarin
P’tit Grobis blanc is a traditional 100% Chardonnay white wine made by Nicolas Chemarin on his Beaujolais terroir, without additives or added sulfites.

Vinification
Vinified entirely from Chardonnay on granite soils, Nicolas Chemarin's P’tit Grobis blanc is harvested by hand and goes through direct pressing. The operation is followed by settling, which does not eliminate all the fine lees, hence a slightly cloudy color.

White flowers and acidity
The sensations offered by this P’tit Grobis white are complex: on the nose as well as in the mouth, a lactic, buttery, yeasty note. The fresh acidity is accompanied by flint, white flowers and a youthful expressiveness. The minerality of this wine is remarkable. A little age will reveal white fruits, a slight fat and sweet notes. It will pair with many dishes; it is also one of the rare wines that we can recommend with vegetarian cuisine. Try it also with pasta, whatever the recipe, but a seafood base will be the best (pasta with clams, bottarga, smoked fish, etc.). One last tip: P’tit Grobis white will be perfect with a Camembert.

Learn more about Nicolas Chemarin
Nicknamed “P’tit Grobis” as a resident of Marchampt (Beaujolais), Nicolas Chemarin is the fourth generation of winemakers on his family estate in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on stony land where he biodynamically chisels natural wines of surprising depth and sincerity.

From the granite
In 2005, Nicolas took over two hectares of his father’s vines and, in 2006, produced his first vintages. In 2008, he acquired other vines. His terroir, very steep, consists of poor, rocky soils on gray granite rock. The vines, averaging eighty years old, rest through very thin soil on the bedrock where their roots plunge deep. The grape varieties, Gamay and Chardonnay, are classically Beaujolais. Nicolas also cultivates two other terroirs in the Régnié appellation: Les Bullats and La Haute Ronze. While organic certification is impossible on such steep soil, Nicolas "follows the moon" and cares for his terroir as a traditional winemaker with respect for nature.

Vinification
Nicolas Chemarin's wines are macerated for a long time (18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control. A third of the aging takes place in temperature-controlled concrete vats and the rest in barrels of four to ten wines. Nicolas Chemarin is already well-known in the natural world for his sweet and fruity vintages, alongside more complex vintages with mineral, aromatic and spicy notes.

La Barbacana Red 2018,

La Senda
La Barbacane is an organic and natural red wine from Castile and León (Spain) produced by Diego Losada of the La Senda estate in El Bierzo. It is made entirely from the Alicante Bouschet grape variety. The vines, aged between seventy and ninety years old, are located at an altitude of 680 metres in the southwest of Bierzo, on clay-limestone soil mixed with numerous minerals: iron, quartz, slate, etc.

Vinification
The grapes macerate on the skins for three to four days in old open chestnut barrels, then the wine is aged for eleven months in chestnut barrels. No filtration, no added sulfites.

Tasting
This is a fruity and juicy red, very representative of its grape variety, which can be paired with grilled sardines, fresh or smoked tuna or mackerel, and mixed dishes such as couscous, paella or risotto.

Learn more about La Senda
Bodega La Senda is the creation of Diego Losada, a child of Bierzo, a region in the northwest of the province of León, bordered to the north by Asturias and to the west by Galicia. Viticulture dates back to Roman times, but most of the vines were replanted in the mid-20th century.

From heavy metal to the Bierzo vineyards
Born in Ponferrada, in the northern Bierzo, Diego devoted himself to wine after a period devoted to heavy metal. Scientific rigidity and conventional methods did not satisfy him. Attracted to viticulture close to the earth, Diego recovered a few plots to showcase the Bierzo terroir as naturally as possible. In 2012, he created the La Senda estate. His wines are like him: honest, frank, natural, and expressive.

Sans Pression White Sparkling 2022,

Domaine Bois Moisset
Sans Pression is a little gem of a natural sparkling wine that ticks all the right boxes. Entirely organic and natural, classified as a Vin de France, it is made in Gaillac by the Bois-Moisset estate from 80% Mauzac, with Sauvignon Blanc and Loin-de-l'Oeil making up the remaining 20%.

A Complete Natural Sparkling Wine
No pressure, no constraints, no stress, but always vinified to perfection and with precision. This is the lesson that Bois-Moisset offers us through this very successful natural sparkling white. The color is cloudy with straw nuances. On the palate, a touch of yeast and vanilla adds to its lightness, with notes of white fruits (apple, pear, white peach), heated grass, and red fruits in palatal notes (strawberry, raspberry). The wine is a touch cider-like, it is a pure delight.

Pairings and occasions
Sans pression is an aromatic and tasty sparkling white wine, a sparkling pleasure that will be suitable for festive occasions but which also deserves to be savored without occasion, pretext or excuse. For example with smoked fish, canned seafood, grilled poultry, fish or white meats. It’s the perfect companion for luxury (or more modest) tapas.

Learn more about the Bois-Moisset estate
In the heart of France’s oldest vineyard—Gaillac, in the Tarn region—Sylvie Ledran, Philippe Maffre, and their son Hippolyte oversee their Bois-Moisset estate, a wine-growing property associated with mixed crop-livestock farming, all organic. Gaillac is famous for its many ancient native grape varieties, and its wine-growing heritage is uniquely rich.

Cows and vines
The Bois-Moisset estate is also home to a herd of old local breed cows, and bed and breakfast accommodation is available during the summer months. It is in this small rural paradise that natural wines typical of their origin and their terroir are born, on fifteen hectares of boulbènes, gravelly and sandy-loam soils carried by the Tarn for thousands of years.

Native grape varieties
The grape varieties are dominated by Syrah and Duras, but the wines of the Bois-Moisset estate reflect the ampelographic richness of the Gaillac region (braucol, prunelart, loin-de-l’œil, mauzac, braucol, ondenc, etc.). The red wines are crisply fruity, concentrated but with smooth and delicate tannins, the whites have character and the pet’nat’s are particularly tasty.

Cuvée Yard Melon de Bourgogne (exclusive cuvée) White 2021

De Vini
This Yard-Melon de Bourgogne is an exclusive, organic, and natural cuvée, created by Christophe Bosque (De Vini) for Culinaries/Yard. It comes from the terroir of the Loire estuary, in Gorges (Loire-Atlantique), in the heart of Nantes, the kingdom of Muscadet, which the De Vini estate worthily represents without having the appellation.

Vinification
Classified as Vin de France, this 100% Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet) grown on gabbro soils is vinified by direct pressing and aged in buried vats in the Nantes style.

Tasting
A pure, fresh and joyful expression of Melon de Bourgogne, this Yard cuvée does not detract from its terroir. The notes diffuse with clarity: lemon, melon, white flowers, with a delicious minerality typical of this Nantes region. A wine for pleasure that will love to accompany oysters, seafood, smoked fish and any seafood.

Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini
De Vini, along with the Vinilibre business, is the multi-faceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his vineyard of some two hectares and fermented in buried vats in the Nantes style - a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural mode.

Gabbro Fondu
After spending years as a merchant, importer, then wine merchant, this former cameraman with a BTS in oenology-viticulture acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, in Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson in 2017. The soils there are made up of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.

Muscadet for the better
Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, particularly 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, they are serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them.

Magnum Gauthier White 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer

Gauthier is a dry, organic (AB label), biodynamic, and natural macerated white wine (orange wine) from Jean-Marc Dreyer, vinified in Alsace from all the grape varieties cultivated by the winemaker and without the addition of sulfites. Always packaged in magnums, it is simultaneously a rarity, a challenge, a curiosity, and a precious bottle to savor. Gauthier is the first name of a pilgrim on the Way of Saint James who spent some time with Jean-Marc Dreyer and took part in the work in the cellar. Having noticed that the blend of the fin de cuvée was excellent to drink, he suggested to Jean-Marc that he make a special cuvée: "It tastes so good, it would be a shame not to do it!" It tastes incredibly good, even, notes the winemaker.

Vinification

If you are familiar with Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range - a series of maceration vintages based on six Alsatian white grape varieties - you will find in Gauthier the synthesis and summary of this range. This wine is in fact the result of the blending of the fin de cuvée of each Origin reference. Once blended, the fin de cuvée are kept for two to three months in barrels to unify the flavors. No added sulfites, no additives, no filtration, indigenous yeasts.

Tasting

This atypical production makes Gauthier a full-bodied, characterful vintage, with a distinct touch of controlled oxidation. Gauthier, of course, contains no more sulfites or additives than the vintages it is made from. That is, zero. It is the synthesis of the Jean-Marc Dreyer estate, and that in itself is a tasting note: refer to each of the other vintages in the Origin range on this site to piece together the puzzle, or, better yet, drink it. With everything that goes with macerated Alsace whites, whether cheeses, local dishes, Lacaune charcuterie or Lyon.

Fontana Blanc 2022,

La Vinicola di Antonio Gismondi
Fontana is a rare, organic, biodynamic, and natural white wine made by Antonio Gismondi in his Benevento terroir (Campania, Southern Italy). Classified as Vino da Tavola (the equivalent of our Vin de France), it is made entirely from the local falanghina grape variety. It is, in short, a falanghina beneventano, or a falanghina wine from Benevento. Falanghina is a very old variety that, in ancient times, formed the basis of the famous Falerna cru (falernum).

In the vineyard and in the cellar
The thirty-year-old falanghina vines grow on stony (limestone) and clayey soil at an altitude of around 350 meters, facing southwest. The harvest is directly pressed and all vinification is done in stainless steel vats. No sulfites are added, no filtration.

Tasting
On the nose, white flowers, exotic fruits, Mediterranean plants, garrigue, maquis: Fontana is a fragrant, sapid and generous white wine. The retro-olfaction is very fruity. Opulent and powerful, round, slightly acidic, very aromatic: the quintessence of Campania white wines, through the talent of Antonio Gismondi. With a very smooth and opulent finish, Fontana offers good aging qualities. It can be drunk now, but it will also age well. Pair it with fish, seafood, and oysters. It will also pair well with Asian and lightly spiced dishes, as well as canned fish, as well as sardines in oil and smoked fish. In fact, anything goes when it comes to pairings.

Learn more about La Vinicola di Antonio Gismondi
Antonio and Anabel Gismondi's winery is located in Campania, in Cerreto Sanita, in the Benevento region. A microclimate cools the land in this area: humid winds from the Tyrrhenian Sea collide with the first ramparts of the Apennine mountain range, causing condensation in the air. Add to this a thermal inversion phenomenon between day and night, and the freshness of the Antonio Gismondi wines is easily explained.

A family estate
For generations, the Gismondi family has cultivated vines here and made wine using the most traditional and natural methods, to which are added those of biodynamics. For a long time, of the fifteen tons of grapes produced each year, one ton was reserved for on-site winemaking for family consumption, the rest going to the local wine cooperative. It was the meeting with Massimo Marchiori and Antonella de Partida Creus that decided Antonio and his wife Anabel to start producing natural wines on site for the entire harvest.

Clay, pebbles and local grape varieties
The vineyard, two hectares, is located between 350 and 380 meters above sea level, on clay, loam and pebbly soils, with two-thirds facing due south, planted with vines around six years old. The rest faces southwest and corresponds to the Pietre and Cerreto cuvées, with vines thirty years old. The grape varieties are Merlot, Freisa and Sangiovese for the reds, and Falanghina and Malvasia di Candia for the whites.

Gentian Spirits

Liqueurs Granier

Granier Gentian is an organic and artisanal liqueur, sourced locally and produced by the Granier brothers near Annecy, in Haute-Savoie. It is part of a long tradition of wild gentian liqueur from the French mountains (Massif Central and the Alps), whose harvest is subject to rigorous controls to ensure the plant regenerates normally.

The Plant

Yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) is a tall mountain plant whose root, extracted by specialized gatherers, the "gentianaires," is used in herbalism and liqueur making. Difficult to extract, it was nicknamed "the poor man's quinquina" because of its beneficial and digestive bitter ingredients. The gentian used for this liqueur comes from a sustainable development sector, controlled by the Gentiana Lutea association, which manages the exploitation of this wild plant.

Production

The gentian root is infused in 96% organic wheat alcohol, before blending with an organic sugar syrup made by a landowner harvesting in the Palatine Forest. The water comes from the Boubioz spring, near Lake Annecy. No additives are added during production. The liqueur, aged in rum barrels, includes coriander seeds and lemon zest. Unlimited aging potential.

Tasting

This gentian has everything going for it, starting with its bitterness. This is indeed the desired flavor in this liqueur, and the Granier brothers know how to let it express itself with frankness and simplicity in order to preserve the strong identity of this noble plant. A few drops on a sugar cube, or a small glass as an aperitif, or as a digestif (with or without ice). Sovereign in case of stomach problems, tones the liver. Despite its bitterness, it can be paired with various dishes, especially as an aperitif. Try it with a ham and butter sandwich! It goes well with charcuterie, cured meats, dry sausages for example. Idea: pour a few drops into your coffee! Or in the batter of a chocolate cake.

Learn more about Granier liqueurs

The Granier liqueur factory — two brothers, Vincent and Stéphane Granier — produces artisanal liqueurs from the Haute-Savoie region. Flavor, sweetness, and balance are their great qualities, resulting from a meticulous and measured infusion technique to minimize extraction.

Wild or organically grown

The plants grown organically, or picked in the mountains surrounding Annecy, are obtained through short supply chains and for this reason reflect the flora of the steep meadows or gardens of Haute-Savoie. Everything is organic and additive-free, from the initial infusion to bottling.

Intact flavors

During the tasting, we were amazed by the Granier liqueurs, one after the other. Never before have we been given such fresh plant flavors by liqueurs. We have the sensation of tasting the plant itself, infused in all its singularity, supported by just the right amount of organic sugar (that is to say, little) produced in the Palatine Forest and just the right amount of alcohol. An organic beer alcohol that allows the plant to convey its message without interference. Not only is it delicious, but it is also an excellent digestif. Verbena, genepi, gentian, mint or meadowsweet, we guarantee you: you will have a good time.

Morey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Rouge 2017

Frédéric Cossard
This magnificent organic and natural magnum red Burgundy wine is produced by Frédéric Cossard. Made entirely from Pinot Noir (a Pinot Fin variety), it is produced in the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation and comes from the "Les Champs de la Vigne" vineyard.

Vinification
The vines grow on a clay-limestone plot and are around sixty years old. They are made from Pinot Fin grapes, an ancient strain of Pinot Noir that is increasingly rare in Burgundy. The harvest macerates in whole bunches and the wine is aged in barrels for at least a year.

Tasting
Typical of the Morey-Saint-Denis climate, this Champs de la Vigne is a powerful and complex wine, offering notes of violet and red fruits. It offers opulent fruit and remarkable minerality. Great elegance and finesse, silky and satiny with a lovely earthy and mineral nuance. The magnum format accentuates its velvety texture and depth. It will be a pleasure to pair it with duck breast, grilled meats, beef, charcuterie and cured meats.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate
Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate give the floor in organic and natural fashion to Burgundy wines (and elsewhere), undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.

Between viticulture and trade
Frédéric Cossard created the Chassorney estate in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature
At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

Zapoï Rouge 2020

Les En Hauts
Rather gurgling but with substance, silky and velvety, dry and tangy, this delicious and indulgent wine offers a rather animal nose with notes of hay. On the palate, cherry, a lovely length, and a nice acidity. Zapoï, a cuvée from the Les En-Hauts project, is the result of the joint effort of winemakers Damien Coquelet and Frédéric Cossard. It comes from fifty-year-old Gamay vines growing in Beaujolais. It is the result of whole-bunch semicarbonic maceration, and is aged for ten months in concrete eggs.

The word "Zapoï" makes you think of Groland, obviously, but do you know the origin of the term? Zapoï is a Russian practice consisting of a binge lasting several days, the result of prolonged alcohol consumption. A proper zapoï should lead to a blackout (you don't remember anything), and regular awakenings where you get drunk again to avoid a hangover. In some cases, you wake up far from home in the snow. This scourge on life expectancy, fortunately, has only a very distant logical connection with the wine we are concerned with here. Let's just say that, presumably, the sound of the name appealed to the two winemakers.

Find out more
Les En-Hauts is not strictly speaking a wine estate but a project of vintages produced in partnership between Damien Coquelet and Frédéric Cossard. These two great figures of Burgundy viticulture—yes, Beaujolais is in Burgundy—had every reason to join forces to create colorful and flavorful vintages together.

Frédéric Cossard is a biodynamic and natural star of Burgundy winemaking, who gives voice to Burgundy's terroirs and wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. His vintages are pure and elegant without artifice and are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. His practice is not limited to Burgundy, as some vintages are made from grapes purchased in other regions. His vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper, and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity.

Damien Coquelet, for his part, is the worthy successor of the great organic winegrowers to whom we owe the advent of nature in the Beaujolais region: he is the son-in-law of Georges Descombes and Jean Foillard was his mentor, continuators of the pioneering work of Jules Chauvet and Marcel Lapierre. Owning nine hectares in Morgon on granite-sandy soils, he cultivates two and a half hectares plus a few leased vines: in all, four hectares on the legendary Côte du Py. A specialist in Morgons that Morgonnent and Chiroubles that Chiroublent, he embodies the true nature of Beaujolais.

Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot Blanc 2020

Frédéric Cossard
The nose of this magnificent Chassagne-Montrachet "Abbaye de Morgeot" premier cru opens beautifully with citrus notes and a complex bouquet. The palate, well-rounded, ample, and balanced, offers a profusion of white fruits, white flowers, and honey, with a siliceous touch that is representative of the exceptional minerality of the plot. The taste sensation is fresh and mineral, full-bodied, rich, and nuanced. This premier cru cuvée, entirely organic and natural, comes from the Abbaye de Morgeot plot, located at the foot of the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation, with high-quality clay-limestone soils. The clay present in this terroir gives richness, the limestone freshness. It is an anthology of Burgundy white wines.

To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful wine-growing practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for some time as a wine broker before creating the Chassorney estate with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations.

In 2006, he created his trading house and bought organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc, and elsewhere. At his farm, the soil and vines are worked as naturally as possible: regular horse-drawn ploughing, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended according to biodynamic principles: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper, and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Magnum Alburostre White 2022

De Vini

Alburostre is an organic, biodynamic, and natural white wine made by Christophe Bosque (De Vini) in the Nantes region from the Folle-Blanche grape variety. It comes from vines growing in Gorges (Loire-Atlantique), on the winemaker's estate, on gabbro soils. Classified as a Vin de France. Folle-Blanche or Gros-Plant is a typical grape variety of the Nantes region, where it has been known since the 16th century and thrives on gabbro soils. Very suitable for distillation, it is also a grape variety used in Armagnac and Cognac. It typically produces low-alcohol, pale-colored wines: Alburostre is all of these things.

Vinification

The organic folle-blanches harvested for Alburostre are pressed directly, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and then the wine is aged for nine months on lees in stoneware jars. No fining, sulfiting, or filtration.

Tasting

Alburostre means "white-beak" in old French. Aside from the paleness of its color—typical of folle-blanche—there is nothing inexperienced about it. It is a very beautiful, easy-drinking white wine (10 degrees alcohol), supple, pleasant, chiseled, and pure. A beautiful yeasty fermentation note rises above its simple description to envelop the palate and further accentuate the wine's length. Very gourmet: reserve it for the finest smoked salmon, seafood, and even caviar. The winemaker recommends salmon tartare with coriander, pollack steak with beurre blanc, or steamed barnacles.

Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini

De Vini, along with the Vinilibre winery, is the multifaceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his vineyard of some two hectares and fermented in buried vats in the Nantes style - a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural mode.

Gabbro Fondu

After spending years as a merchant, importer, then wine merchant, this former cameraman with a BTS in oenology-viticulture acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, in Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson in 2017. The soils there are made up of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.

Muscadet for the better

Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, particularly 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, they are serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them.

Munjebel VA Red 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Made from pure Sicilian Nerello Mascalese (PDO/DOP Etna Rosso and PGI Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese appellations), Munjebel VA is an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine produced by Frank Cornelissen. It is a blend of the estate's three highest vineyards (Vigne Alte), rich in biodiversity: Tartaraci (1,000 m above sea level), Rampante Soprana (870 m), and Barbabecchi (910 m). The soils are basaltic and the vines, ungrafted, are on average 90 years old.

Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed before a 50-day fermentation-maceration on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottle. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
Munjebel VA is the estate's most Burgundian vintage, with the most pronounced acidity. Balanced, structured, gastronomic, and easy to drink, it offers plenty of crisp fruit, without ever falling into facile taste. This wine magnificently expresses the excellence and precision of the old, ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines located on the high terraces of Etna's northern valley. The magnum format further accentuates its characteristics and makes it more polished and rounder. At the table, it goes with everything, and especially with a good roast poultry, to be chosen from the Ferme du Vidalies or the Collectif de la Noire d’Astarac-Bigorre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel PA Red 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel PA, a single-vineyard organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural cuvée from Frank Cornelissen, is a Sicilian red wine in the DOP Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Feudo di Mezzo contrada, in the Porcaria area, at an altitude of 640 meters. Maturation is not facilitated by the depth of the soil in the case of a wet vintage, but what a reward upon tasting! The elegance and roundness of this wine are further accentuated by the magnum format.

Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, before a sixty-day fermentation-maceration on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
Munjebel PA is an accomplished wine, which seems to offer everything one asks of a red. It is powerful, refined, elegant and gives its best in balanced vintages like this 2020. Pair it with charcuterie and cured meats from porc noir de Bigorre or terrines from Fermiers du Bord de Sèvre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel MC Red 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel MC, an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine from Sicily, is produced by Frank Cornelissen. It is classified DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Contrada Monte Colla, a very steep terraced plot, beautifully exposed to the sun and wind, directly opposite Mount Etna. The Nerello Mascalese vines, planted in 1946, grow on sandy clay soil. The magnum format accentuates the power and richness of this wine.

Vinification
The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
Rich and powerful, all in elegance, Munjebel MC is a bit like the hermitage of Etna. Intense color of a deep and saturated red, notes of red rose and wild red fruits. Body, richness and thickness, aromatic palate supported by a fresh acidity. You will pair it with red meats and Mediterranean dishes. Try aBlack Ham of Bigorre or a grilled or roasted Wagyu from Maison Aitana.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic, and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker captivated by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel FM Rouge 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel FM, one of Frank Cornelissen's single-plot cuvées, is an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine with DOP Etna Rosso and IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese appellations. It comes from the vast contrada Feudo di Mezzo, specifically its upper part, known as Sottana. Its soil is deep, and the wines it produces are of an uncommon elegance typical of this region. The site is well-ventilated, but ideal ripeness is difficult to achieve in wet vintages. The magnum format amplifies the character of this wine and accentuates its roundness.

Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed, lightly crushed, and then macerated for 50 days on the skins. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 18 months in fiberglass vats and 18 months in bottles. It is not clarified but lightly filtered.

Tasting
An almost Burgundian elegance and roundness characterize this wine, even in warm vintages. A special vintage of great finesse, which adapts to the most varied dishes. Try it with all the cuisines of the South: Italian, Greek, Provençal… We would recommend a delicious cassoulet from Sillon to accompany it. Or simply a good black pig ham from Bigorre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic, and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker captivated by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be enhanced by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna Valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous plots (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Côte de Nuits of Sicily." Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel CS Red 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel CS is a natural single-plot red cuvée made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, biodynamic and organic (Eurofeuille label). It is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. The grapes come from the Zottorinoto contrada and the Chiusa Spagnolo plot, towards the bottom of the valley, in a lava rock amphitheater at a relatively low altitude (620 m). This is a unique, ungrafted vineyard planted around 1925. The magnum format gives even more depth and dimension to this wine.

Vinification
The Munjebel CS harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation, using a vat base and indigenous yeasts, is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.

Tasting
The Chiusa Spagnolo plot produces a deep and tannic wine, a little behind the other crus of the contrada and reminiscent of the varietal typicity of Nebbiolo. The color is slightly less intense than that of the other reds of the estate and the wine is a little slower to express itself. You will pair it with meats, charcuterie and Mediterranean dishes. Also try it with a roast pigeon from Bresse (Pierre-Eudes Quintart https://culinaries.fr/boutique/produits-de-noel/chapons-et-volailles-produits-de-noel/pigeonneau-2/) or Brittany (Volailles Renault https://culinaries.fr/producteurs/volailles-renault/).

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…