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196 products
196 products
Beaune Les Bressandes, Blanc 2023
Fréderic Cossard
Le vigneron Frédéric Cossard, figure incontournable du vin naturel en Bourgogne, signe ici un Beaune blanc de grande classe, sans aucun label mais travaillé selon des pratiques naturelles strictes. Cette cuvée 100 % Chardonnay, issue du climat réputé Les Bressandes, conjugue pureté, précision et minéralité.
Un élevage singulier pour une expression pure
Les raisins, cultivés sur des sols argilo-calcaires typiques des coteaux de Beaune, sont pressés directement après récolte. La fermentation se fait en levures indigènes, sans aucun intrant œnologique. Le vin est ensuite élevé pendant un an en œuf béton, un contenant neutre et dynamique qui favorise la micro-oxygénation sans apporter de notes boisées. Résultat : un vin vibrant, affiné, mais sans maquillage.
Un blanc frais, floral et ciselé
Au nez, on retrouve des notes de fleurs blanches, de citron frais, de pierre mouillée et une touche légèrement beurrée. En bouche, la matière est tendue, saline, avec un volume juste et une finale minérale, persistante, qui s’étire avec finesse. Le style est à la fois immédiat et de garde, accessible mais complexe.
Une cuvée gastronomique et élégante
À servir entre 10 et 12 °C, ce Beaune blanc s’accorde parfaitement avec les poissons grillés, fruits de mer, poissons fumés, volailles rôties ou fromages affinés. Il peut se déguster dès aujourd’hui mais gagnera en complexité sur 5 à 10 ans. Un vin pour amateurs éclairés et curieux.
Free Ride Blanc 2023
Frédéric Cossard
Une parenthèse alpine signée Frédéric Cossard
Frédéric Cossard, figure de proue du vin naturel en Bourgogne, pousse ici un coup de fraîcheur venu tout droit des montagnes savoyardes. Free Ride 2023, c’est sa première incursion dans le monde aérien de la jacquère, cépage emblématique de Savoie, qu’il interprète à sa manière : libre, spontanée, sans artifice.
Une vinification nature pour une expression cristalline
Les raisins proviennent de parcelles savoyardes soigneusement sélectionnées, puis sont vinifiés dans le chai de Saint-Romain, fief de Frédéric Cossard. Pressurage direct, levures indigènes, aucune correction, aucun intrant, ni collage ni filtration : on est ici dans le plus pur esprit du vin naturel. L’élevage s’effectue durant un an en cuve inox, un contenant neutre qui conserve l’énergie brute du fruit et la vivacité du cépage.
Fraîcheur, pureté et légèreté alpine
Au nez, la jacquère livre un bouquet subtil de fleurs blanches, de citron frais, de pomme verte et de pierre mouillée. La bouche est ciselée, tendue, fluide, avec une fine salinité et une buvabilité redoutable. À seulement 10°, ce vin se boit tout seul, tout en gardant une belle structure acidulée qui lui évite toute fadeur. Un vrai coup de fraîcheur pour les amateurs de vins droits et digestes.
L’accord parfait ? La simplicité
Free Ride brille à l’apéritif, en solo ou accompagné d’une fine charcuterie de montagne. Il fera également merveille sur des fromages de Savoie, des poissons vapeur ou une cuisine légère et végétale. À servir bien frais, entre 10 et 12°C. Garde : jusqu’à 5 ans.
Alburostre White 2023
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 grown in Gorges (Loire-Atlantique), on the winemaker's estate, in gabbro soils. Classified as Vin de France. Folle Blanche, also known as Gros Plant, is a grape variety typical of the Nantes region, where it has been known since the 16th century and thrives in gabbro soils. Highly suitable for distillation, it is also a grape variety used in Armagnac and Cognac. It typically produces wines with low alcohol content and a pale color: Alburostre embodies all of these qualities.
Winemaking
The organic Folle Blanche grapes harvested for Alburostre are pressed directly, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and then the wine is aged for nine months on its lees in stoneware jars. No fining, sulfiting, or filtration.
Tasting
Alburostre means "greenhorn" in Old French. Despite its pale color—typical of Folle Blanche—it's anything but an inexperienced novice. It's a very fine, easy-drinking white wine (10% alcohol), supple, pleasant, precise, and pure. A lovely yeasty, fermentary note rises above its simple description, enveloping the palate and further accentuating the wine's length. A truly indulgent wine: reserve it for the finest smoked salmon, seafood, and even caviar. The winemaker recommends salmon tartare with coriander, pollack fillet with beurre blanc sauce, or steamed goose barnacles.
Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini
De Vini, along with the Vinilibre wine trading business, is the multifaceted venture of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. Wine has always been his passion. We are particularly interested in his local creations, made from grapes grown on his two-hectare vineyard and fermented in a traditional Nantes-style underground vat—a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in a natural style.
Gabbro melt
After years working as a wine merchant, importer, and then winemaker, this former cameraman, who holds a vocational diploma in oenology and viticulture, acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in 2017 in Gorges, Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson. The soils there consist of gabbro on a granite subsoil, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.
Muscadet, but better
Christophe's wines may be made from grapes sourced from the finest French terroirs, particularly in Languedoc, but the winemaker retains a special affection for his own vines, which he tends with passion and a deep respect for the terroir. His labels and appellations reveal a touch of humor and a flair for the pun, but inside the bottle, it's serious business: wines off the beaten path, just the way he likes them.
Paradoxe 2021 White 2021,
A vibrant and unique Alsatian Chardonnay, reflecting an exceptional vintage
The Paradoxe 2021, a unique cuvée from Domaine Einhart, embodies a bold and elegant approach to Chardonnay in Alsace. Produced from a rich clay terroir, this organic AOP Alsace white wine is the result of careful vinification using direct pressing. The cuvée was aged for three years on fine lees in stainless steel vats, a rare method that gives the wine aromatic depth and remarkable texture.
An intense and structured tasting
On the nose, Paradoxe 2021 seduces with its complex and refined bouquet. Aromas of candied citrus and lemon zest intertwine with floral notes and a slightly mineral hint. On the palate, this wine reveals a full and vibrant texture, supported by a beautiful acid tension that gives it a persistent freshness. The salivation is broad, testifying to the richness of the clay soils, and the finish, of great length, is marked by a chalky minerality and nuances of ripe fruit.
A gastronomic wine with great ageing potential
The Paradoxe 2021 is an ideal cuvée to accompany sophisticated and bold dishes. It will enhance shellfish, cooked fish or roasted vegetables, but will also pair perfectly with Asian cuisine or truffle-based dishes. Its aromatic complexity also makes it an ideal companion for mature cheeses and citrus desserts.
Serve between 8 and 10°C after decanting, this Alsace Chardonnay can be enjoyed now for its freshness and liveliness, but its aging potential exceeds 5 years, promising remarkable development in the bottle.
Munjebel FM Red 2021,
A rare elegance from the volcanic terroirs of Etna
The Munjebel FM 2021, 100% Nerello Mascalese, is a great natural wine from Etna, born from the contrada Feudo di Mezzo, one of the most fascinating terroirs in the region. Produced from vines grown at an altitude of 580 meters on deep basalt soils, this wine is distinguished by its rare elegance and remarkable finesse. Frank Cornelissen chose to separate the lower plots (sottana) from the upper plots (Porcaria), revealing unique characteristics for each micro-terroir.
Finesse and freshness at the rendezvous
The bright ruby color of the Munjebel FM 2021 invites discovery. The nose expresses itself delicately, revealing fresh aromas of crisp red fruits, subtle floral notes and a minerality characteristic of volcanic soils. On the palate, this wine seduces with its exceptional balance: vibrant freshness, supple tannins and a silky texture reminiscent of great Burgundy wines. The finish is persistent, carried by elegant nuances and a hint of salinity. Served between 14 and 16°C after decanting, it reveals all its complexity and refinement.
A red for fine dining
Perfect to accompany delicate red meats, such as beef fillet or duck breast, this wine will also enhance Mediterranean dishes or sophisticated recipes with complex flavors.
With extended aging potential, the Munjebel FM 2021 represents a masterful expression of Nerello Mascalese, combining finesse, freshness, and depth. A must-have cuvée for lovers of great natural reds.
i Vicini Moscato White 2022
I Vicini Moscato is an organic, biodynamic, and natural macerated (orange) dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron. Vinified in Savoie using Muscat d'Asti. It is part of the I Vicini series of cuvées, vinified in Savoie using organic grapes from Northern Italy.
Vinification
The Muscats in this I Vicini series grow on very fine, calcareous-magnesian limestone soils, on a particularly cool site. Harvested by hand at good phenolic maturity, they macerate for two months in vats on the skins with punching down. Aged for one year in 300-liter barrels. No filtration, fining, or addition of sulfites.
Tasting
Straightness, tension, and freshness: this beautiful Muscat d'Asti offers the aromatic and musky nose specific to the grape variety, without any syrupy notes. A very present tannic structure balances the whole. On the palate, it is rich and powerful; we find the charming scent of Muscat in the retro-olfaction, but with the tension and freshness that Jean-Yves Péron loves for his dry whites. It is a great table wine, not really for an aperitif, but for gastronomy, no limits.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron talentedly embodies the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Casa Rossa Red 2022
Casa Rossa, a red or rather rosé wine leaning towards red, is none other than the Italian version of Vers la Maison rouge, a Savoyard cuvée by Jean-Yves Péron. It is an organic, biodynamic, and natural wine made from three grape varieties: Grignolino, Freisa, and Barbera.
Vinification
The organic grapes that make up Casa Rossa are harvested in Casale Monferrato, in Piedmont. The Barbera and Freisa undergo direct pressing, and the Grignolino undergoes carbonic maceration with a two-month cap-punching. The three grape varieties are blended before a year of aging in 300-liter barrels. This period is followed by a year of bottle aging.
Tasting
Jean-Yves Péron's Casa Rossa is a rosé that's not far from a red. The tangy Barbera grape brings liveliness; the Grignolino and Freisa (so named for their strong strawberry aromas) give a vinous side that makes Casa Rossa a beautiful winter wine, not a summer rosé. The wine is fruity, tangy, aromatic, and very delicious. It goes well on its own and with accompaniments (pasta, Italian dishes, etc.).
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his winery in Chevaline, in the Bauges region, he vinifies the grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers in Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his winemaking and aging experiences.
Magnum Alburostre White 2022
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.
Ichigo Ichie Red 2022,
Ichigo Ichie is an organic and natural red-rosé wine (a "blouge" we would say) from the Rhône Valley (Ardèche, Saint-Joseph terroir) certified organic by Écocert. It is produced by Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille of Domaine des Miquettes, and the name of the cuvée pays tribute to one of their Japanese collaborators who recently passed away. The expression ichigo ichie means "a unique moment in life."
Vinification
Made without additives or added sulfites, unfiltered, Ichigo Ichie is a blend of all the grape varieties grown on the estate: Gamay, Marsanne, Roussanne, Syrah and Viognier, on granite and loess soils. This organic and natural wine from the Rhône Valley is aged for one year in vats.
Tasting
Ichigo Ichie can be consumed as a light red or a full-bodied rosé; its exotic notes are very seductive. It is recommended to drink it chilled. This additive-free wine will accompany all products from the land and the sea. Other "blouges", if you appreciate this type of rosé which leans towards red (or the other way around), can be discovered on our site: Susucaru Rosato from Frank Cornelissen, a classic from Etna, or L’Arroseur by Vinilibre.
Learn more about Domaine des Miquettes
Domaine des Miquettes, in the Saint-Joseph appellation (Ardèche), is run by Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille, who are passionate about Georgian winemaking techniques. At the heart of this centuries-old viticulture is the kvevri, the buried jar where the entire winemaking process takes place. They also have unburied tinajas (Spanish jars) for fermentation and maceration, while kvevris are used for aging. No sulfites are added to the wines of Domaine des Miquettes. The astringency of the tannins is polished by the terracotta, which produces a velvety texture, a fruity and supple substance.
The Estate
Paul Estève learned his trade from René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two great figures of natural wine in the Rhône Valley. With Chrystelle, he gradually rebuilt the family estate until it reached 4.3 hectares. The plots, located between 300 and 450 meters above sea level, rest on a granite base with light mica and gneiss soils. The agriculture is organic (Ecocert certification) and biodynamic. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe, and the harvest is manual. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work and winemaking.
Vino Rosso Red 2018,
Corva Gialla
Vino Rosso, simply named, can be considered the emblematic red of Azienda Corva Gialla. Red fruits, freshness, mineral and earthy notes, tertiary aromas, spices, and tobacco: this is how we can summarize the profile of this 100% Sangiovese with the Vino da Tavola (table wine) designation. With a few years of bottle age, this 2018 offers beautiful notes of evolution and a pronounced but not excessive body. The richness, due to a high content of natural sugars during fermentation, and the polyphenolic maturity are remarkable, as well as the balance between velvety and tannicity, lightness and body, roundness and acidity. On the nose, notes of spices such as cinnamon, black pepper and fennel; on the palate, the wine is full-bodied and red fruits dominate: ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Black fruits and plum are not left out, and delicious aromas of dried fruits (prune, fig) combine with spices on the finish. Vino Rosso is a classic Sangiovese from old and newer vines planted at 450 meters above sea level on a west-facing plot with volcanic soils. The harvest is destemmed. A starter culture is made from a small proportion of grapes, while the rest is directly pressed and added directly to the starter culture. The wine rests in fiberglass vats until bottling in March.
Find out more
Azienda Corva Gialla ("yellow crow") is a wine estate in Lazio, Italy, located on the edge of Umbria in the Alta Tuscia Viterbese. A volcanic region considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and characterized by its calanches, tall tuff rock formations delineating deep valleys carved by numerous rivers and streams. Corva Gialla is located in Lubriano, opposite Cività di Bagnoregio. Alta Tuscia is a breeding ground for young winemaking talents dedicated to nature who are enhancing these historically neglected lands. Founded in 2017, the estate has four hectares cultivated by Beatrice Arweiler, originally from another wine-growing region, between the Rhine and the Moselle. The new owner also planted an olive grove (Frantoio and Leccino varieties) and developed the estate for mixed farming and livestock production. The vines were planted with the help of Gian Marco Antonuzzi of the Le Coste estate. The friable volcanic soil lends itself beautifully to viticulture and the planting of grape varieties such as Grechetto d'Umbria, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and Ciliegiolo. The estate's wines are quintessentially Italian, meaning they are crafted primarily for enjoyment. They are straightforward, deep, and easy to drink, expressing the strong minerality of their soils.
SP Ancestral Sparkling White 2021
Partida Creus
This 100% Subirat Parent sparkling Catalan wine, classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), has a pale and elegant color. On the nose, it is fresh and aromatic with notes of ripe white fruits, melon, and wildflowers. Agile and lively on the palate, fresh and straightforward, lemony and slightly saline, it offers a crisp texture that perfectly suits its effervescence. Subirat Parent, one of the oldest Catalan grape varieties and a close relative of Malvasia, remains rare even in its country of origin. The clay-limestone soil enhances its freshness and integrity. This wine is produced by direct pressing followed by alcoholic fermentation between 15 and 18°C in stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts. This alcoholic fermentation ends in bottles where the wine rests for ten months on its fine lees before being marketed. Produced and vinified without sulfites or any other additives.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective – we are talking here 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 soon they abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they found a quantity 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 heritage rescue, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Natural wines, which they will continue to make 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, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: it is a true conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet (among others) are also grown here. Few wineries can boast 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-varietal 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 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.
VY Ancestral Sparkling White 2015
Partida Creus
Finely sparkling, lively and fresh, creamy and full-bodied on the palate, this is a superb natural sparkling wine made from Vinyater (a traditional Catalan grape variety) that should be enjoyed, especially now that this magnum has aged a little and gained depth, having had time to develop the full richness of its fresh notes – white flowers, almonds, white fruits – and its magnificent length. This festive vintage, classified as a Vino de Mesa (table wine), will shine as an aperitif, for any celebration, and at the table with seafood, grilled white meats, sweetbreads, or a beautiful vol-au-vent financier. The vinyater harvest is manual; alcoholic fermentation takes place on the skins and with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats. The wine completes its fermentation for ten months in bottles on fine lees.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective – we are talking here 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 but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.
Magnum XL Ancestral Sparkling White 2015
Partida Creus
This beautiful magnum elegantly bears its eight years of age: that's called age, and the notes of evolution that can be discerned add to its charm. These few years further strengthen its character while polishing the edges. Xarel·lo Ancestral, a smoky, deep, full-bodied, mineral, and explosive sparkling wine, is a true invitation to celebrate. The nose offers aromas of ripe white fruits—apple, pear, white peach—followed by mineral notes on the palate that form a framework for yeasty touches reminiscent of buttery pastries and fresh bread. Beautiful, straightforward, saline acidity. Very elegant, XL Xarel·lo Ancestral is a Vino de Mesa (table wine) that is highly drinkable and enjoyable. Made entirely from the native Catalan grape variety Xarel·lo, it is the result of hand-picking and direct pressing. The must is fermented in stainless steel vats using indigenous yeasts and finishes fermenting in bottles on fine lees for a minimum of ten months, without the slightest addition of sulfites.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking and history – we are talking here 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 soon they 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 but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction."
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.
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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.
Xarab Silver White 2006
On south-facing schist hillsides at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Manuel Valenzuela has created this astonishing sweet white wine from the Xarab series, made from Pedro Ximenez and Xarel·lo grapes, raisined on the vine and harvested in December. Golden-amber in color, with a nose of candied grapes and buttery caramel, the palate is rich and taut, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive richness and syrupiness. The finish lingers on dried fruits and caramel, and the cellaring is very long.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Les Voisins Rouge 2016
Jean-Yves Peron
This red from Jean-Yves Péron is a blend of Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon from neighboring vineyards: a beautiful wine in a spirit of solidarity! It has a strong personality while having a clearer, fruitier profile than the average red from this winemaker. Maceration is ten to twenty days.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.