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335 products
335 products
UL Ull de llebre Red 2020
Partida Creus
This wine is highly original: behind the minerality, (black) fruit, blueberry, and freshness, we notice very fine tannins and aromatic herbs. A serious wine, a little grave, but did you know that serious wines make you joyful? Its length on the palate is astonishing. Decanting is highly recommended so that this wine can play its own unique music, down to the finest notes. A recent creation, this red from Partida Creus is made from the ancient and indigenous grape variety called ull de llebre, which, you guessed it, means "hare's eye." What you might not guess is that this is the Catalan name for Tempranillo. It's actually an old local version of this very Iberian grape variety, which Massimo and Antonella have nurtured in their own way.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of wine and history—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties that they passionately revive to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it is not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it is a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush yet always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, exude life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.
GT Ancestral Sparkling Red Wine 2015
A Catalan cousin of Mourvèdre, the Garrut grape variety forms the basis of this dazzling wine, which revisits the classic sparkling wine in a black fruit way: intense, bright, earthy, completely atypical, even a little cracked, reminiscent of the best of Lambrusco. A perfect companion for Ibérico bellota ham, fine chorizos, and all high-end cured meats, as well as pâtés, terrines, and spicy dishes. It evokes the family vine, artisanal production, and free wine.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cyprès de Toi, White 2024
Fond Cyprès
With Cyprès de Toi, Fond Cyprès winery creates an organic Chardonnay from Languedoc, surprisingly fresh and airy in style. This still white wine, made from direct press and aged in stainless steel tanks, highlights the purity of the fruit, the vivacity of the grape varietal, and the simple deliciousness of an accessible natural wine.
An unadorned Chardonnay
Grown on clay-limestone soils, the Chardonnay is harvested early to preserve its natural acidity. Directly pressed, it ferments with indigenous yeasts without the addition of oenological inputs, then it is aged for six months in stainless steel tanks to retain all its freshness and aromatic brilliance. The result: a straightforward, clear wine, ready to drink.
A lively, floral and refreshing white wine
The nose evokes white flowers, fresh lemon, and a slight hint of green apple. On the palate, tension dominates: a lively attack, a light body, a clean and citrusy finish. A wine that is very easy to drink, without heaviness, but with a precise expression of the grape varietal in a sunny climate.
To be enjoyed without delay
Served between 10 and 12 °C, Cyprès de Toi is perfect as an aperitif, but also pairs very well with shellfish, seafood, grilled fish, or white meats with herbs. Drink within two years to appreciate all its freshness and brilliance.
Combe du Temps Red 2020,
Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
La Combe du Temps rouge is a powerful but not heavy wine: red fruits are layered with notes of undergrowth, earth, garrigue, and mineral, on a rather full-bodied and tannic structure. Natural and elegant, not lacking in freshness, La Combe du Temps rouge was fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts, without filtration or fining, then aged 20% of the total volume in barrels. The wine has more than moderate oak. Very balanced, it is a Languedoc blend (equal parts Syrah and Grenache) that plays on freshness with a beautiful chewiness.
To find out more
The Domaine du Temps is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of the Cathar Country. Starting from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the place called Font Juvénal, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and freshness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is determined based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
Sémélé (exclusive vintage) Rosé 2023,
Sous le Végétal
With Sémélé 2023, Sous le Végétal revisits the notion of rosé by offering a cuvée halfway between a light red and a structured rosé. A bold blend of 50% Avgoustatis macerated for a week and 50% Muscat Petit Grain pressed directly, it reveals beautiful aromatic intensity and vibrant acidity.
A rosé off the beaten track
This wine is distinguished by its deep, vivid color, revealing its structure and aromatic intensity. The short maceration of Avgoustatis gives it fine tannins and a nice length on the palate.
A fruity nose and a balanced palate
The nose explodes with notes of strawberry, raspberry and crisp red fruits. On the palate, the attack is fresh, the structure light but persistent, with a tangy and dynamic finish.
How to enjoy Sémélé?
At 10-12°C and decanted before tasting, Sémélé will accompany summer grills, Mediterranean dishes and soft cheeses. With an aging potential of more than 10 years, it will gain complexity with time.
Combe du Temps Blanc 2019,
Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
This estate is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of Cathar Country. Stretching from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, and rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the Font Juvénal area, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and coolness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is decided based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
Sixty percent Chenin, twenty percent Sémillon, and twenty percent Roussanne: this is the blend that makes up the white cuvée of La Combe du Temps. A blend that traces a geographical triangle between Chenin, more associated with the Loire, Sémillon from the Southwest, and Roussanne from the Southeast. All three are fermented naturally, using indigenous yeasts, before aging for nine months in old barrels. No sulfites are added. Delicious and expressive, it is lively and dry with a lovely nuance of melted wood. The elegance and slightly rich note are traits found in all the whites from this estate. Its balance will delight everyone and give it access to numerous flavor pairings.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Susucaru Rosso Red 2024
Frank Cornelissen
Frank Cornelissen's Susucaru Rosso, now a cult wine, takes us to the heart of Etna's black lands for a unique expression of natural Sicilian red wine. Produced as IGP Terre Siciliane, this 2024 vintage is a blend of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Capuccio, Minnella, Alicante Bouschet, and Uva Francesa, organically grown on high-altitude volcanic soils.
A natural wine, precise and profound
The grapes are destemmed then macerated for a month, before fermentation with indigenous yeasts without the addition of oenological inputs. Aging takes place for one year in epoxy tanks, a neutral material that preserves the integrity of the fruit and the finesse of the terroir. Here, everything is done to translate the minerality and tension of Etna's slopes, while maintaining remarkable drinkability.
Between finesse and structure
The nose is intensely floral and fruity, blending violet, dark fruits, sweet spices, and a slightly smoky touch. On the palate, the texture is tannic but fluid, with a lively attack, a generous core, and a peppery, saline, energetic finish. The style is both rustic and modern, elegant but unadorned.
Decant and share
Serve decanted for 30 minutes, between 16 and 18 °C. Susucaru Rosso pairs well with spicy dishes, red meats, grilled foods, charcuterie, or simply as an aperitif for those who appreciate natural red wines with strong personalities. Aging potential: up to 5 years.
Bodegas Coruña del Conde
I'm Natural Don't Panic #10 From Patio White 2018
1540
Bodegas Coruña del Conde
I'm Natural Don't Panic #10 From Patio White 2018
1540
I'm Natural Don't Panic #10 From Patio White 2018
Bodegas Coruña del Conde
Julien López's I'm Natural, Don't Panic range consists of macerated wines. This dry white is based 100% on the Airén grape variety, which is very common in Spain, particularly in Castile-León. Julien created this limited edition using grapes from a friend, Samuel Cano, from Patio. Fresh and tangy, slightly cloudy (unfiltered), with beautiful notes of linden and white flowers. No additives in the vineyard or cellar. Pair with grilled fish and white meats.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
The White Widow White 2024,
Les Grandes Serres
Located between Vaison-la-Romaine and Séguret, the Grandes Serres vineyard, certified organic, promotes an innovative agroforestry approach, including the planting of pistachio trees along the edges of the plots. This cuvée, The White Widow 2024, made from a blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne, elegantly expresses the richness of the Rhône's sandy soils.
A pure and delicious white
Harvested in the cool of the morning on a fruity day, the grapes are pressed directly, thus preserving their brightness and freshness. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, in a subtle balance between new Stockinger barrels (for Clairette and Marsanne, 50%) and stainless steel vats (for Grenache Blanc, 50%). Careful aging with light stirring gives the wine a full texture, without filtration, allowing natural sedimentation of the lees in the cold.
An expressive nose and a generous palate
From the moment you open it, The White Widow seduces with an intense bouquet of yellow fruits and jasmine. The palate is full-bodied and rich, supported by a beautiful mineral tension, which brings balance and length. A fresh finish, with slightly saline notes, prolongs the pleasure.
What to enjoy with this bottle?
This gastronomic white is ideally enjoyed at 10-12°C and pairs wonderfully with fish and white meats in sauce, spicy dishes and blue cheeses. With an aging potential of 5 years, it will gain in complexity over time.
Fleurie Grand Pré, Red 2018
Domaine Bélicard
With this Fleurie Grand-Pré cuvée, Domaine Bélicard explores the richness of Gamay in its most accomplished form. This Beaujolais cru, vintage 2018, combines the typical floral elegance of Fleurie with a serious and gourmet structure, resulting from a long maceration and controlled aging in barrels. A certified AOC wine, uncompromising, both natural, refined and generous.
Patient aging for a mature material
The grapes, harvested at full maturity on granitic soils, benefited from a long two-week maceration, followed by eight months of aging in multi-vintage barrels. This process, far from making the wine heavy, adds complexity and a beautiful woody patina, without distorting the fruit.
A deep nose, a distinguished palate
The bouquet opens with notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, pomegranate, enriched by floral touches of peony and violet, and a subtle woodiness. On the palate, the wine is crisp and structured, with a beautiful length, a silky feel and remarkable aromatic intensity. The balance between tension, dark fruit and floral delicacy gives this cuvée a rare charm.
To be enjoyed with subtle pairings
Served between 14 and 16 °C, Fleurie Grand-Pré will accompany grilled fish, roasted poultry or elegant vegetarian cuisine. It is ready to drink but can still age for 2 to 3 years to reveal other nuances.
Rencontre Red 2020,
Rencontre's nose is subtle, laden with red fruits, with pronounced forest notes: mushroom, humus, a touch of leather, spices, and violet. On the palate, the fruit is very present, very pleasant, and decidedly peppery, and the beautiful, fine, precise tannins nestle gracefully into a very tactile, chewy finish. This is a wine of strong character that surprises with its beautiful structure. Its color is dense and full, like that of a Bordeaux. This wine from the Gaillac region is made from local grape varieties: 40% Syrah and 40% Braucol, supplemented by 20% Duras, all fermented in the same vat. The harvest is destemmed. Maceration lasts three weeks in a temperature-controlled concrete vat, with indigenous yeasts. The Braucol and Duras are co-fermented. Only a few pumpings are carried out. The press juice and free-run juice are blended with 20% Duras free-run juice to add a peppery touch. Aging is also done in vats. We recommend decanting this Encounter which, without any pun intended, is a true encounter that is definitely worth the detour.
To find out more
The name Gaillac, the region where the Bois-Moisset estate is located, owned by Sylvie Ledran and Philippe Maffre, has been associated with wines since Antiquity; It is the oldest vineyard in France, with two thousand years of history and an impressive collection of ancient indigenous grape varieties. It is also a region of dazzling beauty, nicknamed "French Tuscany" because of its gentle hills planted with groves and its almost Florentine brightness. Many estates, along with that of Bois-Moisset, showcase this uniquely rich wine-growing heritage. Along with an estate planted with vines, it is an organic mixed farm that directly sells its production of lentils, sunflower oil, cereal flours and grape juice. A herd of old local breed cows also thrives there and guest rooms are available in the summer. 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. The grape varieties are dominated by Syrah and Duras, but the ampelographic richness of the Gaillac region (braucol, prunelart, loin-de-l'œil, etc.) is also evident in the vintages of the Bois-Moisset estate, which consist particularly of red wines with a crisp fruitiness, concentrated but with smooth and delicate tannins.
Marguerite Red 2019
The Marguerite 2019 from Domaine Bois Moisset is a true immersion in the winemaking heritage of the southwest. Made from Duras, a native grape variety of Gaillac, it reveals all the richness and intensity of this ancestral terroir. Made from vines 15 to 30 years old, planted on sandy loam and clayey gravel from the Tarn terraces, this natural wine is the result of a respectful approach to the vine and the soil.
The vinification follows a minimalist logic: destemmed harvest, three-week maceration in cement vats without added sulfites, and low-temperature fermentation to preserve the fruit's brightness. Aging continues in cement vats until bottling, carried out without filtration and with a tiny dose of sulfur to stabilize the wine while preserving its raw and lively character.
With an intense and clear garnet color, Marguerite 2019 offers an expressive nose, dominated by notes of sweet and spicy spices (cinnamon, black pepper), ripe black fruits, and violet. On the palate, it is a structured, ample, and fresh wine, driven by a beautiful natural acidity that balances its rich body. The tannins are supple yet present, extending into a spicy and slightly licorice-laced finish.
Best enjoyed between 16 and 18°C, this vibrant red is the perfect accompaniment to rib of beef, a prune tagine, or a game terrine. Decanting will allow it to reveal all its complexity.
Cinsauriel Red 2021
Cinsauriel is an organic and natural red wine from the Languedoc region, produced by Jean-Louis Pinto of the Es d’Aqui estate. 100% Cinsault, classified as Vin de France, it comes from the schist soils of Berlou, near Saint-Chinian.
Vinification
Cinsauriel is obtained by fermentation with indigenous yeasts and a month of maceration of the whole bunches in sandstone jars, the container where the aging also takes place.
Tasting
Beautiful bright ruby color, nose of pepper, rose and strawberry, accents of garrigue, candied black olive and prune. Lively and powerful, Cinsauriel is a robust and distinguished wine. It calls for solid foods: beef, roast pork, roast poultry such as chicken, capon or duck. He also enjoys charcuterie and cured meats.
Learn more about Jean-Louis Pinto and the Es d’Aqui estate
A child of Ariège, Jean-Louis Pinto chose to stay in the country and make wines that resemble their terroir, hence the name Es d’Aqui (“He is from here”) that he gave to his wine merchant estate, located in Moulin-Neuf, a town near the Aude, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century.
Winemaker and merchant
Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by winegrower friends. He monitors the fruit set, the ripening, and does everything to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies them at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations on whole bunches and very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga).
All the terroirs of Languedoc
Jean-Louis Pinto's collection area extends throughout Languedoc, particularly in Hérault, Aude, and Tarn. "I make wines from the South," he says. "I'm mainly looking for terroirs that give freshness." The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline quality."
Coup de Foudre Rosé 2021,
Domaine Bois Moisset
A cloudy pink color that already makes you thirsty, a nose that expresses its fruit and fermentation discreetly, while the palate, on the contrary, blossoms with great opulence and roundness, making this Coup de foudre a very easy-drinking wine. The texture on the palate is soft, enveloping, silky, with a fruity and delicious substance. The bubbles are fine and lively, with a tonic and tense finish. From the beginning to the end of the tasting, notes of bitter orange and candied citrus peel, a lovely mineral astringency and a bitterness that further ennobles the whole, balancing the velvety fruitiness. A magnificent bottle, this Coup de foudre, which one might think is vinified in a tuns given its name, but this is not the case: here we have an entirely organic and natural wine, one hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, pressed at the harvest and fermented in fresh juice in a room where the temperature is maintained at 19 °C. This alcoholic fermentation is followed by malolactic fermentation and the wine is bottled without filtration. The secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle with indigenous yeasts and, of course, without sulfites added at any stage of the vinification. Disgorging in December. We recommend chilling this beautiful wine upright for a day before opening to avoid excessive overflow upon opening.
Find out more
The name Gaillac, the region where the Bois-Moisset estate is located, owned by Sylvie Ledran and Philippe Maffre, has been associated with wines since Antiquity; it is the oldest vineyard in France, with two thousand years of history and an impressive collection of ancient indigenous grape varieties. It is also a region of dazzling beauty, nicknamed "French Tuscany" because of its gentle hills planted with groves and its almost Florentine brightness. Many estates, along with that of Bois-Moisset, showcase this uniquely rich winemaking heritage. Along with a vineyard, this is an organic mixed farm that directly sells its production of lentils, sunflower oil, cereal flours, and grape juice. A herd of old local breed cows also thrives there, and guest rooms are available during the summer months. It is in this small rural paradise that natural wines typical of their origin and terroir are born, on fifteen hectares of boulbènes, gravelly and sandy-loam soils carried by the Tarn for thousands of years. The grape varieties are dominated by Syrah and Duras, but the ampelographic richness of the Gaillac region (braucol, prunelart, loin-de-l'œil, etc.) is also evident in the Bois-Moisset estate's vintages, which consist particularly of red wines with crisp fruit, concentrated but with smooth and delicate tannins.
Pet Nat White 2021
We are proud to present the natural sparkling wine from Domaine Einhart, a true bouquet of Alsace grape varieties, floral and cheerful, yet based on a solid framework due to skin maceration: this gives a resolutely vinous, complex, and profound character to a type of wine (Pet Nat) better known for its light, fruity, and airy notes. This makes it a rather paradoxical vintage, a firmly planted orange wine, but with added bubbles—light and joyful bubbles that do nothing to diminish the paradox. This is a festive wine, yet very mineral, very earthy, which has many strings to its bow and is not reserved for festivities: it demands to be savored on its own and especially at the table. At 12.5% ABV, it is composed of Sylvaner, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris, entirely from the estate, harvested by hand. The vines, averaging thirty years old, grow on the muschelkalk soils of the Weingarten and Oberer Altenberg sites. Vinification begins with destemming, followed by a four-day maceration with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged in bottles, on slats, for ten months before disgorging. Serve chilled.
To find out more
Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family property whose vines are found on the hillsides rising between the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, i.e. shell limestone and oolitic limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone). 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 a co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without additives, refusing harmful phytosanitary products, and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer, he is firmly focused on skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a Pinot Noir red. Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the grapes, 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 grape, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of the very beautiful terroirs of the Vosges foothills.
Vino Rosso Delle Grotte Red 2015
Corvagialla
Sangiovese on volcanic soil.
First vintage from Béatrice Artweiller and supervised by Gianmarco Antonuzzi of Le Coste. 100% Sangiovese grape from Lazzio. Aged 6 months in oak barrels and 6 months in bottle. A light and floral red.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
TP Trepat Red 2021
Partida Creus
Made from Trepat, an ancient native Catalan grape variety, this red wine, classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), offers plenty of freshness with notes of red and black fruits (plum, pomegranate, cherry, raspberry), Mediterranean herbs, and well-integrated tannins, with touches of leather and a supple texture. On the palate, it is lively, light, and balanced, with suppleness. It allows for a very wide range of flavor pairings.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-versed—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug tickled them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they found a number of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of saving their heritage, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to produce their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. There is also Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast of growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single varietals are common among them, alongside very rich blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that indicate the cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.
Nuria Muscat of Alexandria White 2018
This winery is located in Sitges, Catalonia, in the heart of the Garraf Natural Park. Manel Avinyo and his brother Joan took over the family estate, which Manel renamed Clos Lentiscus. Even though Barcelona is only a half-hour drive away, the beauty of the landscape is striking and the immersion in nature is complete: Mediterranean forests rub shoulders with Catalan scrubland (thyme, rosemary, rockrose, and the mastic tree, which gave the estate its name, etc.). The Penedès region also has a long winemaking history. Nestled in its gentle hills is Clos Lentiscus, in the Penedés appellation, on twenty hectares of sandy and clay-limestone soils facing due south at an altitude of 225 meters. According to historical documents, the family of Manel and Joan Avinyo has been established there since at least the 14th century. For a long time, the grapes were sold to local cooperatives, but since the two brothers took over the estate, organic and biodynamic farming has replaced conventional practices, the entire harvest goes into the house vintages, and organic and biodynamic practices have allowed this beautiful property to reconnect with its former prestige: in the 19th century, its wines were sold in France and as far away as the Americas. Very quickly, Manel received a nickname: The Bubbleman, a tribute to his talent for vinifying cavas, these sparkling whites characteristic of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, from native varieties for which Catalonia holds the secret: sumoll, ull de llebre, xarel·lo, malvasia of Sitges, cartoixà vermell, cariñena (carignan), accompanied by tempranillo and muscat of Alexandria. The vines are old, sometimes centuries old. No synthetic additives are used in the vineyard, and operations such as planting, pruning, de-budding and harvesting are dictated by the lunar phases. Pollination is facilitated by the presence of beehives; sheep contribute to fertilization and control of the plant cover. Ringo, the white horse, is responsible for working the soil.
Elegance, purity and a crisp minerality due to limestone characterize the productions of Clos Lentiscus. The note of controlled oxidation, when it is felt, does not dominate the tasting and the wines are never deviant. Cavas are known for being exuberant, but those of Clos Lentiscus never have more than two grams of residual sugar per liter. The estate also produces still wines, red, white and rosé.
Núria is the name of Manel's daughter, who assisted her father in the creation of this beautiful aperitif wine that will be a marvel with all Mediterranean cuisines. 100% Muscat of Alexandria, a sweet, large-berry grape, this is a fresh and aromatic sparkling white wine from direct pressing. The first fermentation using indigenous yeasts takes place in 55-liter demijohns and the second fermentation takes place in bottles. Twenty-four months of aging on fine lees and manual disgorgement.
Adonis Rouge 2020
La Grapperie
After fifteen months of barrel aging, Adonis takes on a beautiful garnet color, giving way to a complex nose of red fruits: strawberry, cherry, and more. On the palate, it offers a beautiful structure between pepper and raspberry. Spicy and peppery, with a lovely sweet, yeasty note on the attack that adds to its deliciousness. Made from 100% Pineau d'Aunis, a fiery and light grape variety, one of the oldest in the Loire Valley, Adonis comes from old vines planted in the Coteaux du Loir appellation, on soils predominantly composed of clay and flint. The harvest is hand-picked and transported by horse. After destemming and light crushing, it is fermented with indigenous yeasts. Drink as an aperitif to warm up, or serve on the table for varied and refined pairings.
To find out more
In the Coteaux du Loir appellation, La Grapperie is the name of the estate of Renaud Guettier, who can be described as a master of Chenin, but also of Pineau d'Aunis, which is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Loire Valley. His principle, he confides, is "to produce complex, rich wines with good aging potential and imbued with the minerality of their terroir." The vines are located on hillsides, between 60 and 120 meters above sea level, protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are dominated by clay (at the bottom of the slope), flint (mid-slope), or sand (on the higher ground). The 60-hectare vineyard comprises around fifteen plots. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized varieties in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the remainder consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay, and Grolleau. The average age of the vines is seventy years, including almost two hectares of century-old vines and one and a half hectares of vines aged sixty to eighty years. Convinced of the enormous potential that these old vines can bring to his vintages, Renaud is meticulous in restoring the vineyard. The entire estate is cultivated organically. The soils are worked and all viticultural interventions are manual, including the harvests, carried out at full maturity, which is reflected in the fullness and smoothness of the wines. For the reds, the Pineaux d'Aunis are partially destemmed (depending on the plot) and the macerations are quite long, three to four weeks, with punching down, to promote aging potential. The wines are aged in barrels for between twelve and twenty-four months, then racked, blended and bottled without filtration. For the whites, the Chenins are pressed directly at low pressure and then poured into barrels by gravity. Fermentation takes place in barrels, on indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.
