France

Lune Rayée Red 2020,

Pic Epeiche

Lune Rayée, vintage 2020, is a natural red wine from the Pic-Épeiche estate (Haut-Layon, Anjou), produced traditionally and entirely by hand by Jean-Baptiste Peltier. It is made from Cabernet Franc (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) planted in the same plot on clay-limestone soil.

Vinification

Lune Rayée was made without any additives in the vineyard, except for a little Bordeaux mixture as needed, and without sulfites added during vinification. Semicarbonic maceration (13 days) is followed by a long fermentation in vats using indigenous yeasts. Aging, at Domaine Pic-Épeiche, is done on lees for eleven months, with passage through a vertical press in between.

Tasting

The color of Lune Rayée 2020 is bright, clear, limpid, a beautiful transparent coral red. The palate is intensely sapid, fruity, and one would speak of gurgling if it weren't for a minerality that gives structure and a remarkably saline finish, as well as the touch of bitterness typical of Cabernet. Lune Rayée 2020 from Domaine Pic-Épeiche is easy to drink yet intense, full of red fruits—fresh strawberry—, an energizing sensation of fresh fruit and a beautiful length. It is a wine without additives, deceptively simple, that will be able to measure up to the finest cuisine - such as a rabbit stew of first quality - as well as local charcuterie and salted meats. Seafood rillettes will suit it like a glove. Best enjoyed chilled.

Learn more about Domaine Pic-Épeiche

Entirely natural, produced in a traditional, artisanal manner, Domaine Pic-Épeiche is located in Haut-Layon, in Anjou. It is run by Jean-Baptiste Peltier, who learned the trade from Jérôme Lambert and Patrick Desplats: another fine example of a natural, non-interventionist wine estate in this Loire region where there are many.

In the vineyard and in the cellar

No intervention, but a lot of vigilance: "We work with the grapes," says Jean-Baptiste about his natural wines. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin and Grolleau, all from old vines, cultivated and vinified without additives. Macerations are short but aging is long, almost a year in vats, entirely on lees.

The style

All the freshness and liveliness of the clay-limestone soils are intact in the wines of the Pic-Épeiche estate, which offer the full typicity of the Anjou terroirs worked naturally. Red and white wines are fruity and flavorful, offering a lively and nuanced expression of the local grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Chenin.

Colline des anciens White 2021

Domaine Einhart

The aptly named Colline des Anciens is minerality personified: full of freshness and salinity, it is a dry white from Alsace with an alcohol content of 13.6% and a great aromatic depth. This minerality and aromatic depth reflect the great limestone terroir of the Rosheim hillsides: a clay-rich soil on a substrate of muschelkalk and pink limestone. The plots face south on a 20% slope, and the vines have an average age of thirty years. The blend of three Alsatian grape varieties is carried out as follows: the Riesling (40%) is directly pressed, while the Gewurztraminer (20%) and Pinot Gris (40%) are macerated for forty-eight hours. All the grapes come from the estate and are harvested by hand; both the viticulture and the work in the cellar are 100% free of additives and sulfites, and the wine is not filtered. Colline des Anciens is aged exclusively in Alsatian foudres (wooden vats of around a thousand liters).

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Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family estate whose vines are located on the hillsides that rise between the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, i.e. shell limestone and oolite limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone). Since 1990, Nicolas Einhart has been at the helm, now assisted by his son Théo. True to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to the protection of the land and biodiversity, winemaking without inputs, the refusal of harmful phytosanitary products and the maintenance of ecological refuge zones. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer [link], he is resolutely moving towards skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a red Pinot Noir. Entirely manual harvesting, destemming of the bunches, light punching down and delicate pressing are characteristic of the estate, as well as the separate vinification of each terroir, aging on lees and the absence of filtration before bottling. The wines are pure grape, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of the very beautiful terroirs of the Vosges foothills.

Beaune Les Chardonnereux Qvevris Red 2020,

Frédéric Cossard

This is a magnificent red wine from Beaune with dark harmonies: blueberry, black fruits, black cherry, alongside aromas of red rose petals and fresh violets. It is a calm and elegant wine, endowed with elegant richness and admirable fruit concentration, in which the slight astringency of well-evolved tannins blends gracefully. It comes from a plot of land that has been cultivated organically for three years and faces south. This Chardonnereux plot is known for ensuring early ripening of the grapes. To highlight the minerality of this red Beaune, Frédéric Cossard decided to ferment and age it in qvevri, a Georgian-style buried jar. Aging in qvevri lasts twelve months, after a month and a half of fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The passage in qvevri is preceded by a three-month passage in stainless steel vats.

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Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for some time as a wine broker before creating the domaine de Chassorney with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own wine trading house and buys organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc, and elsewhere. At his farm, the soil and vines are worked as naturally as possible: regular horse-drawn ploughing, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended according to biodynamic principles: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper, and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Bison Grass Botanical Vodka 40° - 70cl

Awen Nature Distillery

This vodka offers delicate aniseed and peppery notes, supported by the magnificent herbal harmony of freshly cut bison grass: vanilla, tonka bean, hay, and toasted almond. Bison grass vodka is a classic Polish recipe, but what exactly is this herb? Hierochloe odorata is a plant in the grass or poaceae family. Depending on the region, it is also called sweet grass, vanilla grass, or holy grass. It is a Nordic plant that is capable of growing as far as the Arctic Circle: it is also found in Canada, in the northern Rocky Mountains and in certain regions of Northern Europe. Medicinal, curative, aromatic, it plays an important role in shamanic rituals as a sacred plant with magical properties. Its name "bison grass" is specific to northern Poland and Belarus, where it grows in the territory of wild bison. Awen Nature has made this vodka according to the traditional Polish recipe revisited, from fresh bison grass grown organically in the distillery's botanical garden and pure spring water from the Black Mountains of the Armorican massif.

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The Awen Nature distillery is a factory of magic potions: beverages with a strong Celtic content, organic liqueurs with a strong touch of poetry. This Breton distillery, located in Ille-et-Vilaine and run by Julien Fanny, initially focused on absinthe, a liqueur that Julien helped rehabilitate. It's not "the liqueur that makes you crazy," he says: we were already crazy before. He strives—successfully—to reproduce the taste of yesteryear, that of the absinthes once given to children on a sugar cube as a dewormer. "You need a touch of madness to be a distiller today," says Julien. In addition to absinthe, Julien distills a wide range of spirits and liqueurs: gins, vodkas, botanical rums, Swedish elixir, concoctions inspired by role-playing games... All made from plants, respecting the environment, without preservatives or artificial flavors. An ode to plants that the korrigans must sip in secret, at night, on the moors.

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.

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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.

Le Miracle Blanc de Noirs Blanc 2020,

Clos des B


The roundness of Grenache, but in white. A surprising, unique, and seductive wine. Superb freshness with a hint of salinity on the finish. This wine is unlike anything else known, hence its name: Le Miracle alludes to the unexpected character of the cuvée, obtained from grape varieties that are generally only used to make rosé or red wine. In other words, Le Miracle is a blanc de noirs, a unique cuvée produced under the Vin de France appellation. It is composed of 95% Grenache and 5% Cinsault and is obtained by directly pressing the two varieties. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, without the addition of sulfites. No fining, no filtration, and no addition of sulfites at bottling.

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Clos des B (initials of the two owners, Gwendolyn Berger and Jean-Jacques Branger) is located in Grimaud, in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. They are therefore the proud producers of the very first natural cuvées from this geographical area. Those who know that this region is home to some interesting viticulture will avoid thinking of the celebrity seaside resort and poolside rosé: before the two Bs bought these three hectares of vines, all these wines went to the cooperative cellar of the Vignerons de Saint-Tropez. Driven by a "thirst for vines," as they say, Gwendolyn and Jean-Jacques overcame administrative difficulties, restored the vineyard, and soon produced reds, rosés, and even a blanc de noirs. Their grape varieties are typical of the region: Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, growing on schistose sands crossed by quartz veins. The property benefits from a microclimate that protects the vines from humidity, disease, and frost. The viticulture and winemaking approach resolutely embraces organic (the estate has been in conversion since 2020), biodynamics, and natural methods. The wines are sulfite-free, unfined, and unfiltered. The wines of Clos des B are a true reflection of their terroir and climate: fresh, fruity, and very pleasant to drink.

Festejar Sparkling White 2021

Patrick Bouju
The scope of Festejar white ("To celebrate" in Occitan, a clear indication of the use of this wine) is dizzying, as this thirst-quenching wine is also a complex vintage, combining very fine bubbles, delicious freshness, a slight sweetness, measured acidity, and a structuring bitterness. Perfect for an aperitif with friends, perfect for the table, perfect for thirst: an all-terrain vehicle for everyone's greatest joy. This semi-dry natural sparkling wine is available in rosé and white. The rosé version (dark pink, almost a red) is based on Gamay d'Auvergne. This white version of Festejar is based on Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and finally Sylvaner directly pressed. The marriage of Auvergne and Alsace.

To find out more
Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises towards the east to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered with vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone, and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves the native grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and simultaneously works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes much to Patrick. The fact that he enjoys lending a helping hand to his winegrowing friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a role model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick has found that his wines do very well without them. He also found that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, balance occurs naturally, regardless of the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Lower Auvergne and its volcanic soils.

Nuits Saint Georges Damodes Rouge 2020,

Frédéric Cossard
The Damodes climate, in the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation, gives the wines great finesse, tenderness, and silkiness with a solid structure. This is the case with this Pinot Noir, concentrated, floral, structured, and fresh, with wonderfully silky tannins. This Pinot Noir comes from the Damodes plot in the Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC. Its name apparently comes from ancient female deities dating back to before the Gallo-Roman period: earth goddesses and druidesses. The vines are planted on finely gravelly brown limestone soils and clay-silt fractions. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. The aging is approximately one year in barrels.

To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked as a wine broker for some time before creating the Chassorney estate with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own wine trading house and buys organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy since vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular ploughing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and coveted wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Sweethog Whiskey Cream, 50cl

Distillerie de Monsieur Balthazar