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The Rhône Valley vineyard, as its name suggests, follows the French course of the Rhône from Vienne, south of Lyon, all the way to Avignon, at the beginning of the Rhône delta. It covers the departments of Rhône, Loire, Ardèche, and Gard on the right bank of the river, and Drôme and Vaucluse on the left bank. This territory corresponds to the Côtes-du-Rhône AOC, present throughout the region. The Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages is concentrated further south (Ardèche, Drôme, Vaucluse, and Gard). The Rhône Valley produces all ranges of wine — from prestigious appellations (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côte-Rôtie) to highly appreciated country wines such as those of Côtes-du-Vivarais or Coteaux-du-Tricastin — and has always demonstrated excellence, even if, in recent decades, it has been necessary to shed the Côtes-du-Rhône of their reputation as "vins de ballon".
The Rhône Valley wine region offers two quite different faces, north and south, despite a certain unity due to its grape varieties. It provides a transition between northern and southern viticulture, just as the Rhône has played this role throughout history. To the north, it is a distinct entity, celebrated for very great crus. To the south, it belongs to Provence and its wines are of Mediterranean style. Furthermore, the southern Rhône Valley vineyard encroaches to the east on two regions far from the river: the Diois and the Durance valley.
The Rhône Valley produces red wines, dry white wines, sweet natural wines such as Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau, and a few sparkling wines in the Diois (Clairette de Die, Crémant de Die) and Saint-Péray regions. As the second French wine region richest in controlled appellations, it includes some highly sought-after great appellations; in red, from north to south: Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Hermitage, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In white, Hermitage, Château-Grillet, and Condrieu. However, the other appellations have nothing to be ashamed of, dedicated since ancient times to high quality and long aging.
This reputation is mainly due to the Syrah grape variety, which reigns over the red wines of the Northern Côtes-du-Rhône with the Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Hermitage AOCs. Syrah indeed produces full-bodied, long-aging, dense, and deep wines that sometimes need to be aged for quite a long time. It is also Syrah, associated with Mourvèdre and Grenache Noir, that gives robustness and velvety texture to the reds of the Southern AOCs (Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Cairanne, Vinsobres, Beaumes-de-Venise red…). The red wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are a special case, as the appellation authorizes a large number of grape varieties.
For white wines, the king grape variety of the Northern Rhône Valley is Viognier, the basis of the prestigious white Hermitage, Château-Grillet, and especially Condrieu appellations. Secondary grape varieties are Roussanne and Marsanne. The white wines of the entire region are direct, rich, and well-structured, with a beautiful balance between fruitiness and aromatic power. The AOCs for sparkling whites are quite isolated, but popular: Clairette de Die, Crémant de Die in Drôme, and Saint-Péray in Ardèche.
Rosé wines are mainly produced in the southern part of the region, particularly in Tavel and Lirac. High quality, they are fruity, supple, and aromatic with a pleasant touch of bitterness.
Finally, sweet natural wines concern few appellations (Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau) but are highly esteemed for their smoothness and aromatic richness.
What appellations should you discover in the Rhône Valley?
It depends on what you are looking for, given the great diversity of wine styles. If you are looking for a very great red wine for aging, you should turn to the north of the Rhône Valley: Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Hermitage, or even Châteauneuf-du-Pape. If you want a less expensive but dense, deep, and full-bodied red wine that is also fruity, look at the Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph AOCs, and the smaller appellations located northwest of Vaucluse: Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Beaumes-de-Venise red, Cairanne or Vinsobres, as well as Coteaux-du-Tricastin and the AOCs close to the Durance (Côtes-du-Ventoux or Côtes-du-Luberon).
For the best dry white wines, choose a white Hermitage, Condrieu, or the rare Château-Grillet AOC, or a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
For a good rosé, opt for a Lirac or Tavel AOC.
Don't deprive yourself of a sweet natural wine like a Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, to which some winemakers now give less sugar and more aromatic acidity than in the "traditional" version from the local cooperative.
The sparkling wines of the Rhône Valley vineyard, such as those from Diois and especially the rare Saint-Péray AOC, are absolutely worth discovering.
What grape varieties are found in Rhône Valley wines?
The main red grape varieties of the Rhône Valley are primarily Syrah, followed by Grenache and Mourvèdre. Also used but less common: Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Marselan, Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Terret, Caladoc…
The white grape varieties of this wine region are mainly Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne, followed by Clairette, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Muscat à Petits Grains, Picpoul Blanc, and Ugni Blanc.
What is the difference between a northern and southern Rhône Valley wine?
The north and south of the Rhône Valley are two distinct wine regions but linked by some of their grape varieties, notably Syrah and Viognier. The difference lies mainly in the geographical location and climate: a Mediterranean zone for the South, a more continental zone for the North.
The north of the Rhône Valley is characterized by dense, full-bodied, tannic, structured, complex red wines that can be aged for a long time and need to be waited a few years after their aging. In the south, while still robust and dense, red wines are fruitier and depend less on the main Syrah grape variety.
For white wines, the difference is quite equivalent: Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier produce rich, dense, complex, and dry wines in the north with fatness and roundness (Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage) or extremely aromatic (Condrieu), while in the south, the specificities and grape varieties are more varied, yielding a palette of dry white wines ranging from crisp acidity to richer and rounder notes.
What dishes pair well with a Côtes-du-Rhône?
With red Côtes-du-Rhône, serve red meats, game, stews cooked in red wine, hot or cold charcuterie, cured meats. While red Côtes-du-Rhône from the South pair well with Provencal tomato dishes, pasta in sauce, and all southern specialties, very old bottles or red wines from the northern part of the Rhône Valley should be reserved for roasted or stewed game, duck, and black truffle cuisine.
White wines generally go very well with everything from the sea — fish, shellfish, crustaceans — but this is especially true for southern whites. You can pair structured and complex white wines from the northern Rhône Valley with poultry, feathered game, blanquettes, grilled or sauced fish, and well-aged cheeses.
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24 products
24 products
Chiroubles Red 2017
A very seductive cuvée, devilishly Beaujolais, Chiroubles to the max, where the Gamay expresses all its freshness and red and black fruits. The nose offers aromas of red and black fruits; the palate is supple, delicious, round, and fruity with a lovely refreshing acidity. Pair it with good stews or the best country hams; even pata negra will melt with pleasure.
Côtes du Rhône Red 2022
This Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is what its name implies: an organic and natural red wine from the lower Rhône Valley, in the AOC-AOP Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It is part of the estate's "Comics" natural series (see label).
Vinification
The Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is made from 80% Syrah, with 5% of each of the following grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, all grown on limestone and sandstone soils. The harvest is manual, the grapes are destemmed and macerated on the skins for three weeks. After pressing, the wine rests for eight months in stainless steel vats.
Tasting
A good, dense, indulgent, and fruity Côtes-du-Rhône, without the slight bite of sulfites, does that tempt you? This Côtes-du-Rhône is part of the estate's organic and natural "Comics" series and will always be perfect when you want a warm, fruity red wine suitable for all occasions.
Learn more about Domaine des Grandes Serres
Domaine des Grandes Serres, created in 1977 with respect for the environment and the terroir, represents the excellence and vitality, in organic and natural mode, of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, where it covers 12 hectares. To make his estate and merchant wines, he harvests, buys grapes, vinifies, and ages them over a wide area, centered around Châteauneuf and the southern Côtes-du-Rhône, extending to areas such as Lirac and the Costières de Nîmes.
An organic commitment without ostentation
A large portion of the Domaine des Grandes Serres vintages are organic and without added sulfites, although the estate does not publicly boast about it. Modestly, Samuel Montgermont, the estate's general manager, explains that the geological and climatic conditions, particularly the mistral wind, promote the health of the vineyard and allow for the elimination of inputs. While the labels don't take themselves seriously, the wines are solid, fresh, and flavorful.
Châteauneuf du Pape Red 2021
Les Grandes Serres
Interested in Châteauneuf-du-Pape with all the flavor, pleasure, and silky tannins that go with it, but without the solemnity? If you like appellation wine—and what an appellation!—but not excessive seriousness (while still appreciating the utmost rigor in the bottle), this wine is for you. This red AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape is part of the Comics series from Domaine des Grandes Serres. It comes from the eponymous estate and is vinified in its cellars. Deep, delicious, fresh, and ample, it has no hint of sulfite, and for good reason: it is entirely natural, fermented with indigenous yeasts and without any chemical additives. It infuses and macerates on the skins in large, truncated wooden vats. It is aged for six months in old barrels before bottling. An all-terrain wine that provides great pleasure, to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones.
To find out more
Everyone knows where Châteauneuf-du-Pape is located, but how well do we really know this appellation? The Domaine des Grandes Serres represents both its excellence and its vitality. The creator of exceptional estate and merchant wines, both red and white, it harvests, buys grapes, vinifies, and ages over a wide area, centered around Châteauneuf and the southern Côtes-du-Rhône and including more peripheral areas such as Lirac or the Costières de Nîmes. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape itself, the estate owns twelve hectares. Established in 1977, it has long been founded on respect for the environment and the terroir. Currently, a large portion of its vintages are organic and without added sulfites, though it doesn't publicly boast about it. Modestly, Samuel Montgermont, the estate's general manager, explains that the geological and climatic conditions, particularly the mistral wind, favor the health of the vineyard and allow for the elimination of additives. Covering the entire range of white and red wines from the Midi and all their grape varieties, the estate is now committed to producing natural wines under labels that take themselves in no way seriously, but the wines contained in the bottles—each bearing the name of its appellation—are nothing short of solid and serious, in addition to being fresh and flavorful.
Saint-Joseph Les Hauts Red 2017,
Domaine des Miquettes
A pure Syrah from the Saint-Joseph appellation, produced by an astonishing estate that chose to vinify in qvevri, Georgian-style terracotta jars. This cuvée, produced from forty-year-old vines, was bottled after two years in jars, offering magnificent notes of pepper and violet on the nose, a satiny palate, and fruity body typical of good terracotta aging. Drink now or keep for a few more years.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
The White Widow White 2024,
Les Grandes Serres
Located between Vaison-la-Romaine and Séguret, the Grandes Serres vineyard, certified organic, promotes an innovative agroforestry approach, including the planting of pistachio trees along the edges of the plots. This cuvée, The White Widow 2024, made from a blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne, elegantly expresses the richness of the Rhône's sandy soils.
A pure and delicious white
Harvested in the cool of the morning on a fruity day, the grapes are pressed directly, thus preserving their brightness and freshness. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, in a subtle balance between new Stockinger barrels (for Clairette and Marsanne, 50%) and stainless steel vats (for Grenache Blanc, 50%). Careful aging with light stirring gives the wine a full texture, without filtration, allowing natural sedimentation of the lees in the cold.
An expressive nose and a generous palate
From the moment you open it, The White Widow seduces with an intense bouquet of yellow fruits and jasmine. The palate is full-bodied and rich, supported by a beautiful mineral tension, which brings balance and length. A fresh finish, with slightly saline notes, prolongs the pleasure.
What to enjoy with this bottle?
This gastronomic white is ideally enjoyed at 10-12°C and pairs wonderfully with fish and white meats in sauce, spicy dishes and blue cheeses. With an aging potential of 5 years, it will gain in complexity over time.
Saint-Joseph 2 years old Red Amphore 2016,
Domaine des Miquettes
This beautiful Syrah in AOP Saint-Joseph is aged for two years in terracotta amphorae. Fresh, balanced, and structured, yet displaying a beautiful fusion of tannins, it can be drunk now or kept for another ten years.
The White Widow White 2024,
Les Grandes Serres
Located between Vaison-la-Romaine and Séguret, the Grandes Serres vineyard, certified organic, promotes an innovative agroforestry approach, including the planting of pistachio trees along the edges of the plots. This cuvée, The White Widow 2024, made from a blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne, elegantly expresses the richness of the Rhône's sandy soils.
A pure and delicious white
Harvested in the cool of the morning on a fruity day, the grapes are pressed directly, thus preserving their brightness and freshness. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, in a subtle balance between new Stockinger barrels (for Clairette and Marsanne, 50%) and stainless steel vats (for Grenache Blanc, 50%). Careful aging with light stirring gives the wine a full texture, without filtration, allowing natural sedimentation of the lees in the cold.
An expressive nose and a generous palate
From the moment you open it, The White Widow seduces with an intense bouquet of yellow fruits and jasmine. The palate is full-bodied and rich, supported by a beautiful mineral tension, which brings balance and length. A fresh finish, with slightly saline notes, prolongs the pleasure.
What to enjoy with this bottle?
This gastronomic white is ideally enjoyed at 10-12°C and pairs wonderfully with fish and white meats in sauce, spicy dishes and blue cheeses. With an aging potential of 5 years, it will gain in complexity over time.
The Wine Witch White 2024,
Les Grandes Serres
In the heart of Vaucluse, between Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues and Visan, the Grandes Serres vineyard thrives on deep clay-limestone soils bordered by garrigue. The Wine Witch 2024, a subtle blend of Clairette, Marsanne, and Vermentino, is a generous white, both powerful and balanced, faithful to its terroir.
A bold and natural vinification
The uniqueness of this cuvée lies in a 24-hour maceration of the Vermentino grapes before pressing, providing structure and depth. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel vats preserves the purity of the fruit, while partial aging in barrels (10% of the Marsanne) enriches the texture. Like all the house wines, The Wine Witch is unfiltered, with a light addition of sulfites to stabilize the whole.
A charming nose and a full palate
The nose opens with notes of ripe, even exotic fruits, accompanied by slightly buttery nuances. On the palate, the attack is supple and round, revealing a remarkable amplitude, carried by a rich and balanced structure. The finish is long, with a beautiful aromatic persistence.
What to enjoy with this bottle?
Served around 10-12°C, this racy white wine goes wonderfully with roasted white meats, grilled fish or even hard cheeses. With its aging potential of 5 years, it will evolve towards even more complex aromas.
Magnum Charpenay White 2017
One of those pure (and all too rare) Beaujolais whites! A 100% Chardonnay from vines planted on the granite and sandy soils around Mont Brouilly. On both the nose and palate, the Charpenay cuvée captivates with beautiful notes of freshly picked white fruits and a slightly honeyed finish.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Madloba White 2016
Madloba Blanc ("thank you" in Georgian, referring to the birthplace of the vine and its terracotta aging) is a blend of 50% Marsanne and 50% Viognier. The vines are planted at an altitude of 350 meters, on a hillside plot with granite and black mica soils. The wine is aged for one year in qvevri, amphorae buried in the cellar in the Georgian style.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Ti'Blanc Blanc 2021,
Paul Estève
It's good, it's white, it's aromatic, it's light, it's fresh, and it's easy to drink, to say the least. The color is distinct, tending toward orange, due to a brief maceration of one of the grape varieties. Ti'blanc stands out as an ampelographic synthesis of the Domaine des Miquettes for the simple reason that it brings together all of its white grape varieties. 2021 was, in fact, a very rainy vintage with a heavy harvest: the resulting wines had low alcohol content. Chrystelle and Paul therefore gathered all their Viogniers, Marsannes, and Chasselas and made Ti'blanc instead of making their usual cuvées. It is therefore a unique wine, exclusive to this vintage. Only the Chasselas is macerated for two days, which gives it a distinct orange color and a certain structure. The Viogniers and Chasselas were pressed directly. Ti’blanc has a low alcohol content (10.5°) but a nice acidity; it will therefore keep a little, but we recommend enjoying it young.
To find out more
Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille are the creators of the Domaine des Miquettes, whose great specificity is the use of Georgian techniques. They are passionate about this country in the Caucasus, the cradle of wine, where eight-thousand-year-old winemaking techniques are still used. At the heart of this viticulture is the qvevri, the buried jar where all the winemaking takes place: fermentation with skin maceration and aging. They set out to discover this country and returned with the decision to age all their wines in buried jars. They have twenty-six, but distinguish between tinajas (Spanish jars) for fermentation-maceration and buried "amphorae" for aging. No sulfur is added. For both reds and whites, the terracotta erases astringency and transmutes it into a velvety texture, a fruity and supple material.
The estate, located in Ardèche, is south of the Saint-Joseph appellation. Paul trained with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two great figures of natural wine in the Rhône Valley. With Chrystelle, he began by taking over Paul's family farm with two ares of vines, then in 2004 the entire estate, which now covers 4.3 hectares. The white grape varieties are located around the house, the red grape varieties are planted on steep hillsides, between 300 and 450 meters above sea level. The plots rest on a granite base with light soils: black mica granite, schist, and gneiss. Everything is grown organically (Ecocert) using biodynamic practices. The vines are cared for and fortified using plant decoctions and clay. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work. The harvest is entirely manual.
Syrah Rouge 2017
Domaine des Miquettes
Syrah of course, bursting with fruit and flavor, from an isolated one-hectare plot on granite and black mica soils, at an altitude of 350 meters.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Saint Joseph Red 2019
A feast of violets, blackcurrants, black fruits, morello cherries, magnificent smoky and roasted notes, pepper, and spices; a crisp palate with a hint of astringency. This beautiful, dense, and mineral red from the Saint-Joseph appellation, produced biodynamically, is made from 100% old Syrah vines growing on well-exposed slopes in Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, on the right bank of the Rhône. The soils are complex: loess, decomposed granite, and gneiss. The harvest is entirely manual, and no additives are used in the vineyard or winery. The grapes are lightly crushed and macerated for three weeks in whole bunches, and aged for one year in old barrels. No filtration is carried out before bottling.
Find out more
Thierry Alexandre produces little (two hectares in Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, in Ardèche, and a few vines north of Crozes-Hermitage), but he produces well and carefully, entirely biodynamically and without additives in the vineyard or cellar. His bottles are in the Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage blanc and Vin de France appellations. The grape varieties are typical of this northern Rhône Valley: Marsanne, Roussanne, Syrah, Viognier. The estate lies on quite varied soils, mainly decomposed granite, as well as gneiss, sandy clay and loess. He practices semicarbonic fermentation in whole bunches for fairly long periods and aging, depending on the vintage, in stainless steel or old barrels. His wines are as rare and sought-after as the winemaker is humble and discreet, but there is nothing haughty or inaccessible about them: pleasant, warm, fluid and well balanced between fruit and mineral, they are wines of pleasure that should be reserved for the most friendly gatherings.
Ambre Dissolved Red 2023
La Tribu Alonso
Ambre Dissolved is an organic and natural red wine without added sulfites, made in Beaujolais by Cyril Alonso. It is a 100% Gamay grape made from several varieties of this grape and classified as a Vin de France. Its name alludes to the soft clocks painted by Salvador Dalí in his painting Persistence of Memory. According to Dalí, purple is the most harmonious of colors: it is also the color of Ambre Dissolved. A discreet allusion to the surrealist painter appears on the label.
Vinification
The Gamays from which Ambre Dissolve is made, grown organically, grow on a 3-are plot on granite soil with wild grass, in agroforestry and without plowing. Pruned in goblet form, they are four varieties of Gamay teinturiers (i.e., Gamays with black skin and red juice, giving a great density of color to the wine): Gamay de Bouze, Gamay de Troye, Gamay de Fréaux and Gamay de Chaudenay. Harvested by hand, the grapes undergo a five-day semicarbonic maceration, without a starter culture, and ferment with indigenous yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations follow one another in fiberglass vats. No additives are added, no sulfites at bottling.
Tasting
Despite a short vatting period, Ambre Dissolved is a very sanguine, mineral, ferrous, slightly earthy and very rustic wine. The color is intense, the nose is spicy, the palate offers a beautiful texture. A very pure, balanced wine, offering a beautiful balance between fruit and minerality. To be paired imperatively with red meats: roasted, grilled, pan-fried, braised or cured. It is a beef wine. It will also appreciate Lyonnaise charcuterie and all regional dishes.
Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.
A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.
The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.
Gigondas Red 2022
Terroir, plot size and grape varieties
Nestled in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Gigondas terroir asserts itself with its quiet strength and raw beauty. Here, in this fiery enclave of the Southern Rhône Valley, the vines find refuge on steep, stony slopes, bathed in sunshine and caressed by the mistral wind. This poor and demanding soil, a mixture of marl and limestone, gives rise to grapes of rare intensity.
In this 2022 vintage, Les Grandes Serres presents a cuvée driven by a classic and remarkably effective duo: Grenache, the sun-drenched king of the south, which dominates the blend, and Syrah, which brings tension and depth. Together, they express the wild and sensual soul of this emblematic terroir.
Cultivation methods
True to a respectful approach to living things, Les Grandes Serres crafts this Gigondas using natural winemaking methods, without artifice, allowing the grapes to express themselves freely. The vines are cultivated in harmony with natural balances, without synthetic products, with meticulous care given to each vine. The harvest is done by hand, selecting grapes at perfect ripeness, guaranteeing healthy and concentrated raw materials. In the cellar, aging is carefully controlled with restraint, without masking the wine's personality, to preserve its original freshness and lusciousness.
Tasting & pairings
The 2022 Gigondas from Grandes Serres is a true explosion of pleasure. From the first sniff, it seduces with its intense aromas of ripe red fruits, crushed strawberry, juicy cherry, which mingle with notes of wild thyme, dark chocolate and a slightly smoky, almost meaty touch.
On the palate, it's a wave of generosity: ample, velvety, but never heavy. Natural freshness balances the richness of the fruit, and the finish lingers on melted tannins, with a touch of salinity that begs for another sip. A "bombshell of deliciousness," certainly, but also a wine of character, with depth and true elegance.
Ideal for accompanying a summer barbecue with friends, a beautiful platter of artisanal charcuterie, or a grilled piece of red meat, this Gigondas is both approachable and refined. Served slightly chilled, it will also surprise with its lightness despite its 15% alcohol content, proving that power can indeed be drinkable.
A sincere, vibrant wine that warmly and generously expresses its terroir.
Pauvre Diable Red 2020,
Gourmet, deep, and velvety, this wine offers lovely, well-integrated tannins. The notes of black cherry and blackberry are assertive, while the mid-palate is characterized by touches of spice and rose. A beautiful natural red from the Vinsobres terroir, with a bright, clear ruby color. Don't be swayed by what you read on the label: Pauvre Diable, endowed with all the graces mentioned above, is nothing to be pitied. The name alludes to the state in which Victor Taylor, the current owner of the Serre Besson estate, found the estate when he bought it in 2011. A restoration of the vineyard followed, as well as a conversion to organic farming which is now bearing fruit: in this case this natural cuvée, without adding any inputs to the vineyard or the cellar, a pure expression of the estate's varied soils (sand, limestone, clay) and the oldest Grenache vines planted there. You can drink it now, in its youth and freshness, or let it age for three to five years.
Find out more
In 2011, Victor, a Californian sommelier who had settled in Nyons after leaving his position as restaurant director at the Carlyle Hotel in New York, became passionate about the Serre Besson estate, then a small, abandoned wine estate nestled around an old stone building. He bought the whole property, renovated it, and revitalized the vineyard. A few years later, the red wines from the Serre Besson estate, in the Vinsobres appellation, were making waves, were noticed in competitions, and won several medals. Victor, upon taking over the estate, began his conversion to organic farming, which now allows him to produce an entirely natural cuvée based on Grenache: this is the Pauvre Diable that we offer you. In addition, it produces a Vinsobres appellation of origin whose grape varieties bring together Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Grenache. As well as a rosé macerated with Grenache Noir, Syrah and Viognier. The owner's ambition is not to impose a new style but to respect the terroir and nature in an environment that offers all the possibilities to make exceptional wines.
Syrah Jamais Malade Red 2021,
That's what they often say about natural wines: the next day, never sick, no hat... Which doesn't prevent you from drinking in moderation, even if it's a magnificent gurgling like this one. The nose is floral, the palate is fresh and light, with a hint of spice on the finish. Jamais Malade is made from Syrah grapes grown on a plot of loess and granite, facing northeast, with hand-harvested grapes. Maceration is semi-carbonic, in wooden and stainless steel vats. Pressing takes place before the end of fermentation, after which the wine is aged in stainless steel vats. Bottling takes place in June.
Find out more
La Ferme de l’Arbre is a small four and a half hectare wine estate located on the right bank of the Rhône, on the Ardèche side, in Tournon-sur-Rhône (near Tain-l’Hermitage). Run for twenty-five years by Christian Lericq and Colette Barrier, it has had its current name since 2021, the year it was expanded. It is mainly located on granite soils with a loess plot. Entirely devoted to natural wine, obtained through organic and biodynamic farming, it currently produces Syrah red wines under the Saint-Joseph and Vin de France appellations. The estate also has a small apiary and produces honey. The vines are tended with herbal teas and nettle manure, and the soil is nourished with compost and manure. The wines are harvested entirely by hand, vatted in whole bunches. Vinification takes place at room temperature and the wines are neither filtered nor fined. The wines are authentic Syrahs from the Rhône Valley, simple and delicious, joyful, convivial and fruity.
Saint Joseph Cuvée Madloba Red 2020
Rhône Valley - Saint-Joseph AOC AOP
The fruit is dense, clean, and precise, the tannins are fine, smooth, and full of freshness, and the minerality is subtle. Even the intensity of a Rhône Syrah reveals that "taste of water," that thirst-quenching fluidity that is the hallmark that Chrystelle Vareille and Paul Estève seek to give to their wines. With its floral and spicy notes, its mineral tension over a full texture and intense sapidity, this wine is reminiscent of Georgian qvevri wines aged in terracotta. Madloba ("thank you" in Georgian), in AOP Saint-Joseph, is a 100% Syrah. The vines, almost forty years old, are planted at an altitude of 350 meters, on a hillside plot with granite and black mica soils. The harvest ferments in tinajas, unburied terracotta jars, and after pressing the wine returns to the tinaja for a year of aging. This aging method enhances the wine's texture, softens the tannins, and develops the fruit. As versatile as it is for pairings, Madloba red can do anything.
Find out more
Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille are the creators of the Domaine des Miquettes, whose great specialty is the use of Georgian techniques. They are passionate about this Caucasian country, the cradle of wine, where eight-thousand-year-old winemaking techniques are still used. At the heart of this viticulture is the qvevri, the buried jar where all the winemaking takes place: fermentation with skin maceration and aging. They set out to explore this country and returned with the decision to age all their wines in buried jars. They have twenty-six, but distinguish between tinajas (Spanish jars) for fermentation-maceration and buried "amphorae" for aging. No sulfur is added. For both reds and whites, the terracotta erases astringency and transmutes it into a velvety texture, a fruity and supple material.
The estate, located in Ardèche, is south of the Saint-Joseph appellation. Paul trained with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two great figures of natural wine in the Rhône Valley. With Chrystelle, he began by taking over Paul's family farm with two ares of vines, then in 2004 the entire estate, which now covers 4.3 hectares. The white grape varieties are located around the house, the red grape varieties are planted on steep hillsides, between 300 and 450 meters above sea level. The plots rest on a granite base with light soils: black mica granite, schist and gneiss. Everything is cultivated organically (Ecocert) with biodynamic practices. The vines are cared for and fortified using plant decoctions and clay. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work. The harvest is entirely manual.
Domaine des Grandes Serres
Côtes du Rhône (exclusive vintage) Red 2022
1107
Domaine des Grandes Serres
Côtes du Rhône (exclusive vintage) Red 2022
1107
Côtes du Rhône Red 2022
This Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is what its name implies: an organic and natural red wine from the lower Rhône Valley, in the AOC-AOP Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It is part of the estate's "Comics" natural series (see label).
Vinification
The Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is made from 80% Syrah, with 5% of each of the following grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, all grown on limestone and sandstone soils. The harvest is manual, the grapes are destemmed and macerated on the skins for three weeks. After pressing, the wine rests for eight months in stainless steel vats.
Tasting
A good, dense, indulgent, and fruity Côtes-du-Rhône, without the slight bite of sulfites, does that tempt you? This Côtes-du-Rhône is part of the estate's organic and natural "Comics" series and will always be perfect when you want a warm, fruity red wine suitable for all occasions.
Learn more about Domaine des Grandes Serres
Domaine des Grandes Serres, created in 1977 with respect for the environment and the terroir, represents the excellence and vitality, in organic and natural mode, of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, where it covers 12 hectares. To make his estate and merchant wines, he harvests, buys grapes, vinifies, and ages them over a wide area, centered around Châteauneuf and the southern Côtes-du-Rhône, extending to areas such as Lirac and the Costières de Nîmes.
An organic commitment without ostentation
A large portion of the Domaine des Grandes Serres vintages are organic and without added sulfites, although the estate does not publicly boast about it. Modestly, Samuel Montgermont, the estate's general manager, explains that the geological and climatic conditions, particularly the mistral wind, promote the health of the vineyard and allow for the elimination of inputs. While the labels don't take themselves seriously, the wines are solid, fresh, and flavorful.
Saint Joseph Cuvée Madloba Red 2014,
Domaine des Miquettes
From the prestigious AOP Saint-Joseph, Domaine des Miquettes offers us a unique cuvée with its Saint-Joseph Cuvée Madloba 2014. Certified organic (Eurofeuille, All our organic wines), this wine is made from Syrah grown on steep terroirs in the northern Rhône, offering a pure and intense expression of the grape variety.
A Georgian-inspired vinification
This cuvée bears the name "Madloba," which means "thank you" in Georgian, a nod to an ancestral winemaking method. The wine is aged in qvevris (buried amphorae), which gives it a beautiful aromatic depth and a silky texture, while preserving its natural and authentic character.
An intense nose and a structured palate
Upon opening, this organic Saint-Joseph reveals a deep and complex nose, marked by notes of ripe black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), violet and spices. On the palate, the attack is ample and velvety, with a well-integrated tannic structure and a long finish with slightly smoky and mineral accents.
For what occasion?
Served at 16-18°C and decanted before tasting, this wine is the perfect accompaniment to grilled red meats, game in sauce or stewed dishes with mild spices. With an aging potential of 5 to 10 years, it will evolve towards even more complex aromas over time.
