France - Languedoc-Roussillon

Falgueyras Red 2018,

Domaine Bois Moisset

Vigne Vieille du Falgueyras is a fruity and indulgent red wine, rich in notes of red fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, morello cherry) and beautifully peppery. Its profile is enhanced by sweet spices, prune on the nose, black olive, as well as more mineral accents (smoke, natural incense). It has character, oak without exaggeration, and a very beautiful body. Typical of the Gaillac terroirs, this is a red wine made 100% from old Syrah vines aged thirty and forty years, planted on boulbènes (gravelly, loamy sand) on the second terrace of the Tarn. The destemmed harvest macerates in cement vats with two punching down of the marc. The fermentation temperature did not exceed 21°C. Aging continues for nine months before bottling without filtration and, of course, without the addition of sulfites.

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 luminosity. Many estates, including that of Bois-Moisset, showcase this uniquely rich winemaking 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 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 Gaillacois (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 crisp fruitiness, concentrated but with smooth and delicate tannins.

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.

Royal Canette White 2016

La Sorga

This 100% Colombard white wine comes from grapes grown on basalt sand and Villafranchian limestone soils in Adissan. Antony Tortul selected the most concentrated grapes from the plot and created a blend of direct pressing and maceration with a little flotation (clarified must). The whole was aged in vats for eleven months. The exotic fruit notes of this wine pair very well with fish in a creamy white wine sauce or in matelote. It has a ten-year aging potential.

Moelleux de Muscat White 2010

Le Petit Domaine de Gimios

A sweet Muscat that will intrigue your palate: charm, character, complexity, a touch of mystery, a sweetness that lingers languidly. For lovers of wines that stray from the beaten track without losing their voluptuousness.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Rencontre Red 2020,

Domaine Bois Moisset

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

Domaine Bois Moisset

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.

Magnum Variette Red 2018

Domaine Fond Cyprès

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.

Muscat Sec Des Roumanis White 2010

Le Petit Gimios

This dry Muscat Petit Grain comes from century-old vines planted in limestone soil very close to the bedrock. The grapes are foot-trodden, very lightly macerated, then aged for several months in stainless steel vats.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Le Grenache du Bois Saint Jaume Red 2022

Fond Cyprès

Le Grenache du Bois Saint Jaume 2022 from the Fond Cyprès estate is a true ode to the terroir of Languedoc-Roussillon. This 100% Grenache Noir red wine, grown according to organic farming principles (Eurofeuille label), elegantly expresses the richness of its natural environment. Located in the Occitanie region, this vineyard is surrounded by woods on three sides, creating a microclimate conducive to the maturation of the 80-year-old vines that thrive on sandy soils.

Vinification and Aging

The vinification of this natural wine is carried out with a three-week maceration, followed by ten months of aging in vats. No oenological inputs are used and the fermentation relies exclusively on indigenous yeasts, thus guaranteeing a pure and authentic expression of Grenache Noir. Without filtration, this wine retains all its complexity and depth.

Tasting Notes

On tasting, Le Grenache du Bois Saint Jaume reveals an intense nose dominated by aromas of red fruits and typical notes of the garrigue surrounding the vineyard. On the palate, the wine is velvety, with a beautiful length and a silky texture that testifies to the controlled aging. The structure is balanced, offering a freshness that enhances the fruity and spicy flavors of Grenache. This wine has the potential to age beautifully for over ten years.

Food and wine pairings

Ideal with grilled or sauced red meats, this wine also pairs perfectly with Mediterranean dishes. For optimal enjoyment, serve it at a temperature of 14 to 16 degrees after lightly decanting.

Les Bonnes Quilles White 2022,

Domaine Bois Moisset

Les Bonnes Quilles is an organic and natural white wine from the Gaillac terroir, produced by the Bois-Moisset estate. This new vintage, Les Bonnes Quilles, is aptly named. This white maceration wine, classified as Vin de France, is a marvel of balance and will seduce you with its personality.

Vinification

Les Bonnes Quilles blanc is a blend of three white grape varieties: Sauvignon and Muscadelle (the majority) and Len-de-l’el (Loin-de-l’œil), a Gaillac grape variety named for the length of its stalk, at 10%. The vines grow on the clay-limestone molasse soils of the first slopes of Gaillac and the grapes are harvested by hand. The Sauvignon and Muscadelle are directly pressed and rest in vats, while Loin-de-l’œil, destemmed, macerates for eight weeks on the skins. The two vats are blended for bottling.

Tasting

Les Bonnes Quilles, the aptly named. An engaging white wine, opulent yet dry, where the macerated far-of-the-eye plays the role of spice. At once fresh, robust and pleasant, Les Bonnes Quilles is superbly aromatic on the nose and in the mouth. A wine for friends and good food, with a sunny and convivial profile. It will accept solid pairings, nothing scares it: roasted white meats, fine poultry, grilled fish or fish in sauce, or country cuisine (cassoulet, stews, carbonades, etc.).

Learn more about the Bois-Moisset estate

In the heart of the oldest vineyard in France — that of Gaillac, in the Tarn — Sylvie Ledran, Philippe Maffre and their son Hippolyte watch over their Bois-Moisset estate, a wine-growing property associated with a mixed crop-livestock activity, all in organic farming. Gaillac is famous for its many ancient indigenous grape varieties, and its wine-growing heritage is uniquely rich.

Cows and Vines

The Bois-Moisset estate is also home to a herd of old local breed cows, and 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.

Indigenous Grape Varieties

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

Cinsauriel Red 2021

Jean Louis Pinto

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."

Es d'aqui Danslezetoiles Red 2016

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 complement the fruity and herbaceous notes, much to the delight of natural wine enthusiasts. Plenty of aromatic presence, character, and originality.

Le Grenache du Bois Saint Jaume Rouge 2021

Fond Cyprès
Fresh, delicious, supple, intense, balanced, and with a surprising length on the palate, this beautiful red Grenache in Vin de France is perfect for drinking or keeping. Delicate and velvety, it offers beautifully blended tannins and a magnificent balance with notes of undergrowth and garrigue plants. It has the generous and caressing character of its grape variety. It is a good example of the "forest" wines of Fond Cyprès, marked not only by their grape varieties but also by the wooded and windy environment that refreshed the grapes' growth. After hand-harvesting, destemming the grapes, and fermenting for four weeks in concrete vats, the wine spends ten months aging in old barrels. It comes from a sandy plot of Grenache vines surrounded by a forest and a biodynamic olive grove. It is aged for nine to twelve months in old 228-liter demi-muids, which have the advantage of not oaking the wine but ensuring a comfortable, gentle aging process.

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 have 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 took over an old heart of an estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache vines, which had seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean and vibrant soils are 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 evaluated 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.

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

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.

SM White 2017

La Sorga

"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 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 viticultural 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 one These favorites is a vineyard. The result is a stunning 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 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 all the rest.

This white wine comes from Villafranchian terroirs on a basalt base located near Pézenas, in the upper Hérault valley. The name SM, formed from the initials of “sauvignon-marsanne”, refers to the blend that makes up this wine: sixty percent marsanne (vines aged twenty-five years) and forty percent sauvignon blanc (vines ten years old). Marsanne is pressed directly and the must is used to macerate the Sauvignon in whole bunches for sixty days. The aging, eight months, takes place in vats. The nose evokes bergamot, beeswax, fennel and dried apricot. The palate is taut, endowed with an incredible sapidity. Exotic fruits, mango in particular. A natural companion for mature or blue cheeses, without forgetting the very creamy goat cheeses of the South. It will keep for about ten years.
Natural wine without added sulfites.

L'Harmonie Red 2014

Domaine Le Temps Retrouvé

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.

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.

La Syrah de la Pinède Red 2022

Fond Cyprès

La Syrah de la Pinède 2022 from Fond Cyprès is a true ode to nature and the terroir of Languedoc-Roussillon. Produced on a north-facing plot surrounded by a pine forest, this cuvée embodies a perfect balance between freshness and concentration. The rich, fresh clay-limestone soils allow the 15-year-old Syrah vines to develop a beautiful maturity until the end of September, giving the wine an elegant structure and expressive aromas.

Vinification and Aging: Respect for the Terroir

The grapes are harvested by hand, then carefully destemmed before a gentle three-week maceration. Traditional vinification respects the grapes, using indigenous yeasts and without the addition of additives or filtration, thus highlighting the authenticity of this natural wine. The wine is aged in 42 hl wooden vats for 10 months, preserving the wine's memory and allowing it to develop a subtle depth and complexity.

Tasting: An Elegant and Expressive Syrah

On the nose, La Syrah de la Pinède reveals captivating aromas of red fruits and black olives, distinctive signs of its Mediterranean terroir. On the palate, we find this same freshness, due to the northern exposure of the vine, combined with a beautiful concentration reminiscent of the generosity of the southern sun. Its silky texture and fine tannins offer a persistent and balanced length on the palate.

Food and Wine Pairing: Ideal Companion to Roast Meats

This red wine pairs wonderfully with roast meats, revealing all its aromatic richness and delicate structure. Serve it between 14 and 16 degrees, and don't hesitate to decant it to release all its aromatic complexity. With an aging potential of more than 10 years, this wine will evolve magnificently in the cellar.

Respect for the Environment: An Organic Commitment

Certified organic farming (Eurofeuille), La Syrah de la Pinède 2022 embodies Fond Cyprès' commitment to environmentally friendly viticulture. Without synthetic products or industrial yeasts, this wine is the pure expression of its terroir.

Es d'aqui Paloma Red 2020,

Jean-Louis Pinto

Notes of strawberry, plenty of acidity, and a delicious flavor. Paloma is a light, thirst-quenching red, claret, almost a rosé. The grapes all come from Adissan, in the Hérault region: Clairette, Colombard on a strip of basalt soil, and Grenache on lacustrine limestone. The harvest macerates whole bunches for two weeks in stainless steel vats. Half of the wine is aged in 500-liter barrels and the other half in resin vats.

To find out more

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 (“It’s, it’s from here”) that he gave to his winemaking business, located in Moulin-Neuf, a town near Aude, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century. Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by other winegrowers, his friends, in whom he has complete confidence. He doesn’t just buy the product, he monitors the fruit set, the ripening, and makes regular visits until August, in order to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies it at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations with whole bunches. A three-week maceration is common for him, as are very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga). His collection area extends throughout the Languedoc, particularly in the Hérault, around Adissan, Faugères and Saint-Chinian, as well as in the Aude (Limoux) and Tarn (Gaillac), two terroirs that are dear to him. It turns out that the typical Languedoc soils – schist, basalt, pebbles, clay-siliceous – particularly appeal to him for the freshness they give to the wines. "I make wines from the South," he says. I especially look for terroirs that give freshness, even if the wines are 14 degrees. " The grape varieties are, of course, typically Languedoc: Grenache, Carignan, Mauzac, Cinsault, Braucol, Duras and Sauvignon. The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control the extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline side." The soil, the place, as we understand it, are of the utmost importance to him: once again, the name of his estate Es d'Aqui was not chosen by chance.