Confirm your age
You must be at least 18 years old to browse this site.
Carignan is one of the most emblematic red grape varieties of the Mediterranean basin. Known for several centuries, it is closely linked to the sunny landscapes of southern France, Spain, and Italy. Its origins are uncertain, but most ampelographers agree that it originated in Aragon, a region in northeastern Spain, where it was already widely cultivated in the Middle Ages.
Its name is said to come from the town of Cariñena, in Aragon, which gave its name to this grape. From there, it spread to neighboring vineyards, notably in Catalonia and Languedoc, then in Provence and throughout the south of France. For several centuries, it formed an essential basis of Mediterranean viticulture.
This traditional grape variety has experienced various fortunes over time. Very productive, it was massively planted in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in Languedoc and Roussillon, to meet the needs of mass production. In the 1970s and 1980s, it still represented a huge part of the Languedoc vineyard. But its image was tarnished, as it was often associated with rustic, powerful but unsophisticated wines.
Since the 1990s, a real revival has taken place. Thanks to the patient work of passionate winemakers, who have chosen to highlight old vines and limit yields, this Mediterranean red is now regaining its prestige. This variety, long considered a simple production pillar, now reveals all its complexity and authenticity.
A Mediterranean Growing Area
Carignan is a sun-loving grape variety. It is mainly found in the south of France, where it remains very present in the appellations of Languedoc, Roussillon, Minervois, Corbières or Fitou. It is also cultivated in Provence and the southern Rhône Valley, often blended with Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre.
In Spain, it is known as Cariñena or Mazuelo, and it is still widely present in Catalonia, Rioja, and Aragon. In Italy, it is found in Sardinia, under the name Carignano, notably in the DOC Carignano del Sulcis.
Beyond the Mediterranean, this vine has been exported. It is cultivated in California, Chile, Argentina, and even South Africa, where it is used to produce wines of character, often in blends. Despite its global expansion, it maintains an unbreakable link with its original landscapes: the dry and sunny hillsides of the Mediterranean rim.
Synonyms and Denominations
Like many old grape varieties, Carignan has numerous synonyms depending on the regions where it is grown. Besides Cariñena and Mazuelo in Spain, it is known as Carignane in California, or Carignano in Italy. In some areas of Catalonia, it is also called Samso.
These name variations reflect its eventful history and its establishment in various countries. However, whatever the denomination, it retains the same fundamental characteristics: a strong personality, impressive vigor, and an ability to reflect its environment.
Physical Description of the Grape Variety
This robust vine is distinguished by vigorous growth, capable of adapting to difficult conditions. Its clusters are large, compact, with medium-sized berries and thick skins. The color of the grapes is a deep black-blue, which gives intensely colored juices.
The leaves are large, lobed, often a dark green that resists sun exposure well. Carignan is a late-ripening variety, requiring a lot of heat to reach maturity. It thrives in poor, stony, dry soils, where it can develop its full potential.
Viticultural Characteristics
This old plant is renowned for its productivity. In fertile terroirs or when managed for high yields, it produces wines considered harsh, tannic, and sometimes austere. But when cultivated on old vines, with low yields, it reveals a completely different dimension.
Its late maturity makes it a grape variety suited to hot climates. It fears excessive humidity but tolerates drought and high heat very well. Its vigor requires controlled management, often in traditional goblet pruning in Mediterranean vineyards.
Today, many winemakers choose to work this variety with carbonic maceration or whole-bunch fermentation, in order to soften its tannins and highlight its fruit. These practices reveal a much more accessible and elegant profile.
A Contrasting Aromatic Profile
Carignan is a grape variety with a rich and singular aromatic identity. In its youth, it often expresses notes of black fruits: blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry. There are also hints of spices (pepper, licorice), as well as a subtle vegetal undertone, reminiscent of garrigue or thyme.
Over time, it gains in complexity and depth. Wines from old vines develop aromas of prune, leather, cocoa, and sometimes blond tobacco. The palate is marked by firm tannins, sustained liveliness, and great structure.
Where some grape varieties primarily seek roundness, this Mediterranean vine asserts a strong personality. Its wines can be powerful, but they also reveal unexpected freshness when yields are limited and the vines grow on well-suited terroirs.
Wine Styles Produced
Carignan is rarely vinified alone. It is most often used in blends, particularly in Languedoc and Roussillon, where it forms harmonious cuvées with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. These alliances balance its tannic structure and acidity with roundness and gourmet character.
Red Wines of Character
In its classic version, this variety produces deep, colored, full-bodied reds. They can be a bit austere in their youth, but they gain in finesse after a few years of aging.
Fruity Wines by Carbonic Maceration
Increasingly, some winemakers choose to use carbonic maceration, as in Beaujolais, to produce softer, fruitier, and more accessible wines. This technique reveals the gourmet side of the Mediterranean grape, with notes of strawberry, cherry, and raspberry.
Natural Wines
In the natural wine movement, Carignan holds an important place. Thanks to its vigor and its ability to express the terroir, it allows for the creation of frank, digestible wines that captivate with their energy and sincerity.
Aging Potential
Wines from this old plant can have good longevity, especially when they come from old plots and suitable terroirs. Traditional cuvées gain in complexity with 5 to 10 years of aging, developing interesting tertiary aromas.
However, versions vinified with carbonic maceration or in a fruitier style are meant to be drunk young, to enjoy their aromatic brilliance and freshness.
Food and Wine Pairings
Carignan is an ideal companion for Mediterranean cuisine. Its tannins and structure make it an ally for grilled meats, sauced dishes, and lamb-based recipes. It also perfectly accompanies grilled vegetables, ratatouille, game dishes, and aged cheeses.
In its lighter and fruitier versions, it pairs well with charcuterie, summer barbecues, or simple everyday dishes.
Carignan in Natural Wines
Many winemakers in Languedoc and Roussillon are now working with Carignan in natural wines. Thanks to its old plots, often over 50 years old, it offers concentrated and balanced grapes. Vinifications without additives reveal all its purity and expressive power.
In this context, Carignan has become a symbol of the Mediterranean revival: an ancient plot finding new youth thanks to practices that respect the environment and the grape.
Conclusion: A Grape Variety to Rediscover
Long associated with mass-produced wines, Carignan is now experiencing a true renaissance. In the hands of passionate winemakers, it reveals unexpected potential: that of a noble grape variety, capable of producing deep, sincere, and authentic wines.
Whether vinified alone or in a blend, in a traditional or natural version, Carignan has once again become an essential player in the Mediterranean wine landscape. It embodies both history and future, tradition and innovation.
Sort by:
28 products
28 products
Fond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Cyprès de Toi Red 2022
1250
€12,50
Unit price perFond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Cyprès de Toi Red 2022
1250
€12,50
Unit price perCyprès de Toi Red 2022
An ode to the southern grape varieties, a beautiful, dense, and deep red from Languedoc. Its freshness and density also make it a thirst-quenching wine that also performs very well with food. Cyprès de Toi Rouge is to be enjoyed in all circumstances; it is a wine for all occasions. Very drinkable, straightforward, and structured, it is the result of a blend of the estate's young vines: Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, destemmed and vinified separately with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats, a traditional method in the Corbières. This fermentation and aging method owes its total absence of oak, allowing for a very pure fruity experience. No inputs are used in the vineyard, the winery, or the bottling process. This is practiced all year round, as the estate keeps the juices in vats: the idea is that there is never a shortage. It will be an ideal companion for Iberian ham, red or white meats, duck, and all grilled dishes.
To find out more
This Corbières estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already had a clear objective: "to produce southern wines that reflect us, wines with character attached to our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the heart of the old Corbières massif, they took over an old estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache vines, which had not seen any fertilizer or pesticides for years: these clean and vibrant soils were ideal conditions for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. Vinification is carried out without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first assessed by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. Fond Cyprès wines poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: pine forests, shaded springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the signature of the soil. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, plant environment and fruit expression, Fond Cyprès wines reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.
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.
Fond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Backdrop - Exclusive Red Cuvée 2021
1720
€17,20
Unit price perFond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Backdrop - Exclusive Red Cuvée 2021
1720
€17,20
Unit price perToile de Fond - Cuvée Exclusive Rouge 2021,
Fond Cyprès
Velvet, full-bodied, full-bodied, and a beautiful aromatic palette: this red has it all and will pair well with anything (moments, occasions, dishes, etc.). Toile de Fond is an exclusive cuvée from Fond Cyprès for Culinaries. It consists of eighty percent free-run juice from Carignan de la Source and twenty percent pressed juice from the Corbières blend, renamed this year Le Cordières des Andes (one-third Carignan de la Source, one-third Syrah de la Pinède, and one-third Grenache du Bois Saint-Jaume). The grapes are vinified separately before being blended in concrete vats for aging. This newcomer, which is very dear to us, is a red wine for all occasions, in the straightforward and sunny style – without excess heat – which characterizes this estate.
Find out more
This Languedoc estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already had a clear objective: "to produce southern wines that reflect us, wines with character attached to our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the old Corbières massif, they are taking over an old heart of the estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache, which have seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean and living soils are an ideal condition for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. The vinification is done without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first assessed by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. The wines of Fond Cyprès poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: the pine forests, the shady springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the soil's signature. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, vegetal environment and expression of fruit, the wines of Fond Cyprès reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.
Esprit Attila Red 2018
Anthony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winegrower, in other words, a wine merchant whose scope extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a wine technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he created La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path of love at first sight, and each of these loves is a vineyard. The result is a dizzying mosaic of natural, lively and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can include such a variety of grape varieties: the whole of southern France is there with muscat, grenache, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and tutti quanti.
Esprit Attila is made up of sixty percent carignan (one hundred and thirteen year old vines) and forty percent syrah. These two grape varieties are harvested on the ferruginous clay-limestone soils of Lagrasse, in the Corbières. Vinification, in whole bunches, is done in separate grape varieties for ninety days in quasi-infusion before blending, followed by aging in concrete vats for a year and a second aging of one year in bottles, like a great Spanish red. The nose is immediately very aromatic and we find in abundance the characters of the two grape varieties: blueberry, blackcurrant, black olive… The palate is full, delicious, extremely fresh and typical of its vintage, with notes of violet.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Es d’aqui Danslezetoiles Rouge 2015
Jean-Louis Pinto
This blend of Braucol, Carignan, and Muscat grown on clay-limestone soils was vinified in amphorae. Notes of candied black fruit and leather are added to the fruity and herbaceous notes, to the delight of natural wine adventurers. Plenty of aromatic presence, character, and originality.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Serves with: Organic Cul Noir pork sausage
Grande Pestilence Rouge 2019
La Sorga
Antony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winegrower, in other words, a wine merchant whose area of activity extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a wine technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he created La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path filled with favorites, and each of these favorites is a vineyard. The result is a dizzying mosaic of natural, lively, and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can list such a variety of grape varieties on their menu: the whole of southern France is there with muscats, grenaches, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and tutti quanti.
The label and the name with their pestilential connotations should not make this wine pass for what it is not: no morbid stench will disturb your experience once the bottle is opened. The nose, on the contrary, is of great aromatic complexity: black fruits, humus, white pepper, peony, and on the palate the citrus peel typical of the schist soils of the Faugères region and particularly Cabrerolles, from which this wine comes. The texture is very rounded, the finish is long and already very straight! No sulfites, no filtration, nothing else for that matter. The blend is made from sixty percent Cinsault (sixty-five-year-old vines), twenty percent Grenache (sixty-five-year-old vines), and twenty percent Carignan (sixty-five-year-old vines). Vinification is done in whole bunches in a quasi-infusion for sixty days for Cinsault and forty-five days for the other grape varieties. Once everything is blended, aging is one year in vats. It will keep well for a good ten years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
1er Jus Red 2023
Fond Cyprès's 1er Jus 2023 is a bold and original expression of the Languedoc-Roussillon terroir. This red wine, made from a blend of Carignan and Grenache Noir, offers a unique and fluid taste experience, halfway between a red wine and a rosé. With a moderate alcohol content of 12.5°, it stands out for its freshness and lightness, perfect for convivial moments.
Terroir and Vinification
The Carignan and Grenache Noir vines grow on clay-limestone soils typical of the region, giving this wine a subtle minerality and a beautiful structure. The vinification is carried out according to a unique method: the whole bunches of Carignan are immersed in a saignée of Grenache in full fermentation, with pressing two days later. This process begins as a rosé vinification and ends in red, giving the 1er Jus Domaine its unique character and light color.
Aged for 6 months in stainless steel vats, this wine is made with indigenous yeasts, guaranteeing a pure expression of the fruit and terroir. The minimal presence of sulfur and light filtration ensure a respectful and natural approach to the wine.
Tasting and Food Pairing
On the nose, the 1er Jus 2023 seduces with fresh and vibrant raspberry aromas. On the palate, it reveals a fluid, almost airy texture, with a fruity and elegant finish. It pairs ideally with a beautiful charcuterie board or as a convivial aperitif, best served chilled between 12 and 14 degrees for an optimal experience. This natural wine can be kept for up to five years, but it also tastes great young.
Respect for the environment
Certified organic (Eurofeuille label), this wine respects sustainable and ecological viticultural practices. Fond Cyprès is committed to producing natural wines without synthetic chemicals, allowing the richness of the terroir and the authenticity of the grape varieties to fully express themselves.
Kikiriki Black Red 2018
Elegance, purity, and a crisp minerality due to the limestone characterize the productions of Clos Lentiscus. The note of controlled oxidation, when present, does not dominate the tasting, and the wines are never deviant. The cavas are renowned for their exuberance, but those from Clos Lentiscus never have more than two grams of residual sugar per liter. The estate also produces still wines, red, white, and rosé.
Learn more
This Cocorico (in Catalan) is a red made from a blend of Tempranillo and Cariñena (Carignan). Aromatic and light, it comes in a one-liter bottle and is not a luxury: this distinguished gurgle, at the table and as an aperitif, will go well with everything. A very good wine for tapas and al fresco dining.
It is in Sitges, Catalonia, in the heart of the Garraf Natural Park, that Manel Avinyo and his brother Joan took over the family estate, renamed Clos Lentiscus by Manel. Even though Barcelona is only a half-hour drive away, the beauty of the landscape is striking and the immersion in nature is total: Mediterranean forests rub shoulders with Catalan scrubland (thyme, rosemary, rockrose, mastic tree which gave its name to the estate, 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. Manel quickly earned a nickname: The Bubbleman, a tribute to his talent for making cavas, the sparkling white wines characteristic of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, from native varieties that only Catalonia has the secret to: sumoll, ull de llebre, xarel·lo, malvasia from Sitges, cartoixà vermell, cariñena (carignan), accompanied by tempranillo and muscat from 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.
All In Wine 2018
Es d'aqui Jean Louis Pinto
A blend of two vintages and five grape varieties, four reds and one white – Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Muscat. Each grape variety is vinified separately, aged in old barrels, and blended before bottling. A beautiful, elegant, and spirited red, with a lovely bouquet of light flowers and red and black berries.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Fond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Magnum Variette Red 2018
4400
€44,00
Unit price perFond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Magnum Variette Red 2018
4400
€44,00
Unit price perMagnum Variette Red 2018
A blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault: a full-bodied red with aromas of garrigue, blackcurrant, and blackberry. Pairs well with red wine stews: beef stew, gardianne, beef bourguignon, coq au vin, as well as roast red meats. Ideal with poached pears.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Es d'aqui Danslezetoiles Red 2016
This blend of Braucol, Carignan, and Muscat grown on clay-limestone soils was vinified in amphorae. Notes of candied black fruit and leather complement the fruity and herbaceous notes, much to the delight of natural wine enthusiasts. Plenty of aromatic presence, character, and originality.
Last bottles in stock!
Danslezetoiles 2018, Es d'aqui Jean Louis Pinto
This blend of Braucol, Carignan, and Muscat grown on clay-limestone soils was vinified in amphorae. Notes of candied black fruits and leather are added to the fruity and herbaceous notes, to the delight of natural wine adventurers. Lots of aromatic presence, character, and originality.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Accompaniment: Organic Cul Noir pork sausage
L'Harmonie Red 2014
A beautiful blend of southern grape varieties, this Roussillon red is composed of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan from vines growing on clay-siliceous soils. Harmonie is a wine of patience, obtained through long-term maceration and aging, which gives it a dark color, a powerful nose, and intense aromas of black fruits. Decant for a few hours before tasting to fully appreciate its fullness.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cuvée Carignan Red 2023,
A true homage to the Carignan grape variety, this cuvée seduces with its complexity and indulgence. Made from organic grapes harvested at the foot of Mont Ventoux, this cuvée offers a dark color, a nose of black fruits, spices, and pepper, and a full, sunny palate. The tannins are melted, giving way to flavors of undergrowth, violet, and spices.
Aged for 9 months in stainless steel vats, this is a fresh and balanced red, perfect for casual meals with charcuterie, grilled meats, or spicy dishes. Serve at 16-18°C, it can be stored for 5 to 10 years.
Aubunite Sparkling Red 2016
La Sorga
A blend of 80% Aubunite and about 20% Aramon, with a little Auvergne Gamay and Carignan, grape varieties sourced mostly from the limestone sands around Carcassonne and the rest from the basalt soils of Auvergne. The Aubunite macerates in whole bunches; the other grape varieties are destemmed. The wine is bottled by hand, and disgorgement is performed by Antony himself. Its notes of red fruits and spices will complement an aperitif and will not disappoint a chocolate mousse. Aging potential: five years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Goes with: Desserts, Aperitif
Es d’aqui CFCR Red 2011
A blend of Cabernet Franc and Carignan, fiery, powerful, and deep, balanced by a touch of freshness. Lovely notes of black olive.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Carignan Red 2014,
Made from 130-year-old Carignan vines growing in a complex blend of clay, silica, mica-rich schist, quartz, and gneiss, this wine undergoes extended aging.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cuvée Carignan Red 2022
It's all in the title: this Cuvée C Carignan by Frédéric Cossard is a 100% organic and natural Carignan, vinified in Burgundy by Frédéric Cossard. The Burgundian master here takes on Carignan from the South, expressing its virtues with his usual dexterity. The blend includes a little Mourvèdre.
Vinification
The Cuvée C Carignan vines are planted at the foot of Mont Ventoux. The vinification of organic grapes is entirely natural, using indigenous yeasts, and maceration is done in whole bunches without exaggerating extraction. Aging is done in vats. No sulfites added.
Tasting
Peppery, spicy, black fruits, C Carignan offers notes of undergrowth, violet, and well-melted tannins, it is a gourmet and fresh wine for all occasions, sunny and balanced. Pair it with grilled meats, charcuterie or cured meats. If you are interested in Carignan, you will also find beautiful expressions at the estates Fond Cyprès or Le Temps retrouvé.
Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney
Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give a voice in organic and natural ways to the terroirs and wines of Burgundy and elsewhere, undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever his grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and innovative.
Between viticulture and trade
Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney 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, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended biodynamically, the harvest is manual, carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.
Grisou Rosé 2021
Belly Wine Experiment
Complex, refreshing, unusual, and delicious… A rosé, obviously, but with a fairly solid structure. One might guess from its name that it's a vin gris, and its color gives us the final hint. Grisou is a vin gris (therefore) quite typical of Belly Wine's experimental passion, since it is made from Carignan from the South and Pinot Gris from Heiligenstein (Alsace) grown on clay-siliceous soils. Two very different terroirs are united in one wine. Let's remember that Grisou, like Rosé, is a still wine with a pale color made from black grapes in short maceration. Here, it's a little more complicated since two-thirds of the grapes are directly pressed, the remaining third being crushed in whole bunches and macerated for four days. Disgorging takes place two months later. This wine is organically grown and has received no chemical inputs or sulfites, in the vineyard or in the cellar. As it plays on several levels, both light and straightforward, Grisou can allow for very wide pairings.
To find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experiment as a winemaking business. The creative duo has it in spades: Claire is the sister of Daniel Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne, and Jura grape varieties, readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason, and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. The uniqueness of Belly Wine Experiment is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of the blends, with Xarel lo from Catalonia, for example, being able to sit alongside Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semicarbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.
