France

Volnay Red 2021

Domaine de Chassorney

This warm and straightforward wine from the Volnay appellation, with notes of red and black fruits, reveals itself on the palate to be balanced and lively, with lovely, gently spicy notes. On the nose, it has already expressed beautiful notes of red fruits (strawberry), spices, and candied fruits. On the palate, it is warm and powerful, with floral aromas and a great minerality on the finish. This Volnay comes from old Pinot Noir vines growing at the bottom of the slopes, on dense, stony soils of ferruginous red clay and limestone. The plots are steep, facing west-southeast and located between 230 and 280 meters above sea level. The vines are worked on horseback, respecting the soil and the earth. The harvest is manual and is carried out when the grapes are fully ripe. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. 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 wine-growing 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 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 since vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his home, the soil and vines are worked as naturally as possible: regular horse-drawn ploughing, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for 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. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Westerberg White 2021

Domaine Einhart

Westerberg is a dry white wine full of character, elegance, and spice, offering the best of the estate's Riesling and Gewurztraminer: 90% Riesling and 10% Gewurztraminer grown on the great limestone terroirs of the Rosheim hillsides: soils of shell limestone with ceratites (fossilized limestone) and lettenkohl (muschelkalk carbonate) plates. A depth of one meter and eighty of soil with a grain size of 70% limestone and a layer of loess at one and a half meters, this is a superb minerality that benefits the wine. One hundred percent of the grapes come from the property. The average age of the vines is forty-five years, on plots facing south on a 30% slope. The grapes are entirely hand-harvested and destemmed. The Riesling is directly pressed, while the Gewurztraminer undergoes a forty-eight-day maceration before pressing. Everything is fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for one year on fine lees and is bottled without filtration. No sulfites or any other inputs are added to the vineyard or the cellar. We recommend decanting this Westerberg.

To find out more

Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family property 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 oolitic 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 a co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without additives, refusing harmful phytosanitary products and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer, he is firmly focused on skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a Pinot Noir red. Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the grapes, 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.

Les Orgues Rouge 2019,

Frédéric Gounan
Fruit, minerality, straightforwardness, clean and flavorful red fruits: the volcanic and mineral expression of basalt soils through Pinot Noir, unique to Auvergne, is incomparable. Les Orgues is a pure Auvergne Pinot Noir produced biodynamically on clay-limestone soils rich in granite and basalt. The harvest is crushed and vinified in whole bunches. Aging in barrels is thirty months. This wine calls for traditional hearty dishes, stews, soups with Fourme d'Ambert, pountis or sausages in brioche.

To find out more
Coming from a family of farmers established in the commune of Saint-Sandoux (Puy-de-Dôme) for at least two centuries, Frédéric Gounan was in his first life a mechanic and prototype creator for the French motorcycle brand Voxan, whose headquarters were in Issoire. He turned away from the industrial world to devote himself to wine with his partner Caroline. He intends to take advantage of the magnificent terroirs of his native village, far from "pissing the vines", as was done in the past: he notes that everything that comes from this land has exceptional taste qualities. He took over plots of Gamay from Auvergne, planted other grape varieties, and ended up producing vintages that are among the tastiest and most sought-after in Auvergne. On this land of the Chaîne des Puys, Pinot Noirs grow on black basalt soils, while Sauvignons and Pinot Gris grow on white clay-limestone soils with basalt pebbles. A fan of organic and biodynamic farming, Frédéric also applies methods that he considers appropriate to the climate and terroir: to facilitate photosynthesis in this harsh and contrasting climate, he practices lyre trellising, which allows the vines' foliage to be aerated and exposed to the sun, guaranteeing ripe fruit at harvest. Always a mechanic at heart, he makes his tools and tinkers with his tractors according to his needs. Its wines are rare and distinguished, highly sought after by connoisseurs: small estate (less than two hectares), small production (by volume, not by spirit).

Farmhouse Cider 2020,

Florian Bourrienne

This 2020 vintage farmhouse cider from Florian Bourrienne still bears the sweetness of its youth, but it is perfectly ripe for drinking. It already offers ample, evolved, and roundly fruity notes, which are the distinctive mark of this producer. You can let it age for at least another four or five years; it will gradually acquire airier, even fuller, and more vegetal notes evoking hay, flowers, and meadow, as well as flavors of ripe candied apple that we love to find in Florian's farmhouse ciders. The bubble is soft and fine, the aromatic palette asks to unfold, and in this regard, we advise you to decant this cider. Its faithful companions will be fresh, smoked or dried seafood, cooked, as well as charcuterie cooked the old-fashioned way and buckwheat pancakes.

To find out more
What mainly differentiates Florian Bourrienne from other cider producers is that he makes ciders for laying down, intended to evolve over the years. His orchard is in the heart of Calvados, in the Pays d'Auge, but outside the AOC in order to preserve the freedom and singularity of his ciders. We can speak, without hesitation, of natural cider, because the cider maker goes beyond organic to respect the traditional production method, delicate, patient and demanding enormous work. From his fifteen-hectare orchard planted with tall stems, he produces ciders for ageing, excellent to drink in their youth but sumptuous after several years. The blend is carefully measured according to the characteristics of each vintage. The fruit production is entirely organic and the fermentation processes—there are two for traditional cider—are slow and patient, so that the cider is made in the right way, using natural yeasts. These are preserved in the cider thanks to a light filtration that respects all the living elements capable of polishing the taste and aromas, but also facilitates the formation of foam, which must be just right: neither too strong nor too weak. It's difficult to manage, but the result is well worth it. These are mastered ciders, eminently delicious, marked by an extraordinary sweetness and roundness of apple. Over time, they acquire notes of acidity and astringency that gracefully reinforce their beautiful aromatic palette. Ciders of taste and pleasure, as delicious at the table as as an aperitif.

Morey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Qvevris Red 2020,

Frédéric Cossard

This Morey-Saint-Denis Les Champs de la Vigne 2020, by Frédéric Cossard, is a true ode to Pinot Fin, a rare and precious strain of Pinot Noir. Aged in qvevri, this wine reveals exceptional purity and depth, enhancing the richness of its terroir.

The Morey-Saint-Denis AOC, a showcase for an exceptional wine

Located between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation is renowned for its powerful yet refined reds. Here, Frédéric Cossard delivers a natural and lively interpretation, from sixty-year-old vines rooted in clay-limestone soils. The result is a wine of great minerality, where the structure and elegance of the terroir are sincerely expressed.

The unique imprint of qvevri vinification

Far from classic barrel aging, this Morey-Saint-Denis was vinified and matured in buried terracotta jars. This technique, inspired by Georgian tradition, gives the wine a beautiful satiny texture, natural aeration and a pure expression of fruit. On the nose, bright red fruits, morello cherry and subtle earthy nuances herald a full and vibrant palate. The body is silky and velvety, with a deep minerality and fine tannins that ensure great length.

A wine for aging and gastronomy

This Morey-Saint-Denis is a emotional bottle, perfect to be enjoyed young with its fruit or after 5 to 10 years of aging, when it will develop all its complexity. Serve between 16 and 18°C, it will pair wonderfully with roast poultry, stewed meats or mature cheeses. A great Burgundy wine, natural and vibrant, not to be missed.

Cailloux Rouge 2020,

Patrick Bouju
Cailloux lives up to its name: it's a wild, smoky, long, and persistent red wine, marked by intensely mineral notes: pebbles, metal. However, the fruit is present and juicy. The overall impression is dense and concentrated; the wine can be drunk now but will still age for a few years. This cuvée is made from old Pinot Noir vines on basalt, marl-limestone, and sandy soils. Three-quarters of the harvest is destemmed, leaving the rest in whole bunches; the whole grapes macerate for one month in barrels. Serving temperature: 14-16°C. Open twenty minutes before tasting or decant.

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 native grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and also 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 a lot to Patrick. The fact that he likes to lend a hand to his winegrower friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the A la Natural series, 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 own wines do very well without them. He has also observed that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, the balance is achieved on its own, 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 Basse-Auvergne and its volcanic soils.

Es d'aqui M&M Rouge 2020, Jean Louis Pinto
Prodigiously aromatic, a little tannic, this wine is sure to surprise. It is a blend of Muscat of Alexandria (40%) and Mourvèdre (40%) on clay-limestone soils. By combining these grape varieties, we are sure to produce a rather atypical red, especially since the wine is obtained from various macerations and direct pressings. The grapes come from vines on clay-limestone soil and are aged in resin vats.

To find out more
A child of Ariège, Jean-Louis Pinto chose to stay in the region 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 them at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations on whole bunches. The three-week maceration is common at his place, as well as very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He has, he says, "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga). His collection area extends throughout the Languedoc, and particularly in the Hérault, around Adissan, Faugères and Saint-Chinian, as well as in the Aude (Limoux) and the 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 mainly look for terroirs that give freshness, even if the wines are 14% alcohol.” 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 extraction and give his wines, he says, “a very crystalline quality.” The soil, the location, as you can see, are of the utmost importance to him: once again, the name of his estate, Es d’Aqui, was not chosen by chance.

Pimpant Rouge 2020,

Domaine Capmartin
Sixty percent Syrah, ten percent Grenache, twenty percent Tannat, and a hint of mystery grape variety that provides the spice; Pimpant, in the Côtes-de-Gascogne appellation, lives up to its name and brings with it the joy of living. Made from a blend of several high-quality plots, it grows on north-facing clay-gravel soils and rolled pebbles on red clay. The average age of the vines is ten years. The use of cover crops helps loosen the soil and provides nutritional support, alternating with natural grass cover. The harvest is destemmed and macerated carbonically before being aged for six months on lees in stainless steel vats. No additives or sulfur are added. In creating this wine, Domaine Capmartin wanted to offer us a non-appellation cuvée entirely intended for pleasure, sharing, and conviviality. It is the result of blending several plots and is intended to be accessible, fruity, light, and unpretentious. "The bottle you open as an aperitif when you don't want to worry," says Simon Capmartin. It's a wine you uncork when you want to be very kind to yourself and to others. But drink it within the year, that's the winemaker's advice.

Find out more
Guy Capmartin settled in 1985 in the former convent of Maumusson-Laguian, in the Gers, to exploit the magnificent surrounding soils, from which he would soon produce highly acclaimed wines in the Madiran and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh appellations. In 1987, Tradition, his first vintage, was born. By the 2000s, he had decided to work exclusively in organic and biodynamic agriculture, a decision reinforced and entrenched by his son Simon, who took over. The wines were noted and received numerous awards. Certification was obtained in 2013, and the Demeter label is in progress. Taking advantage of his most specific plots on the estate, Simon also began to produce natural vintages, without inputs and according to the principle of minimal interventionism. Labeled Vin de France or Côtes-de-Gascogne, these are the vintages we offer at Culinaries.
The estate's grape varieties are organized around Tannat, the king of Madiran, surrounded by a palette as rich and diverse as the estate's soils: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, a little Syrah and Grenache Noir, plus a few old red vines currently being identified. A plot of tannat, located on a very fine and very supple clay-marl soil with gravel, is pre-phylloxera. For the white, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu, as well as, for the Côtes-de-Gascogne, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Viognier.
The main objective of the Capmartin estate is to make frank, fruity, authentic and honest wines, perfectly reflecting their terroir, which explains the parcel-based nature of the wines under the appellation: one parcel corresponds to one vintage, and vice versa. This also explains the number and variety of vintages.

i Vicini Cortese Blanc 2019,

Jean-Yves Peron
For a long time, Savoyard wine suffered from a somewhat flimsy image, not taken seriously enough. Yet, what treasures its varied soils and numerous ancient grape varieties produce! Jean-Yves Péron embodies the renaissance of this beautiful vineyard. Living in Chevaline, near Lake Annecy, he skillfully combines committed viticulture and merchant winemaking, both with a focus on nature. His Mondeuse reds are magnificent, as are his whites made from ancient local grape varieties—Jacquère, Altesse, Bergeron, and Persan—no less so. He lives in Chevaline, but his current vineyard, three hectares biodynamic since the beginning, is divided between Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, a little further downstream in the Isère valley.
Initially destined for a career in biochemistry, Jean-Yves quickly fell in love with the vine and trained as an oenologist in Bordeaux. He learned his trade as a winemaker with Thierry Allemand in Cornas, then with Bruno Schueller in Alsace, before spending some time in New Zealand and the United States. His trading activity, which began in 2011, allows him to buy the harvest from organic winegrowers near his home, but also in Northern Italy: for him, it is a new dimension given to his work as a winemaker, allowing him to multiply the terroirs and to deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging. Jean-Yves Péron's winemaking follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow and steep surfaces, his mountain vines receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The surrounding vegetation is very rich: it protects the vines and helps to strengthen them. The soils are grassed, mown and reworked with a pickaxe and winch. The harvest is entirely manual. Once vatted in whole bunches, the grapes, both red and white, undergo a semi-carbonic maceration which allows the extraction of fresh fruit aromas. This maceration time varies between five days and nine weeks depending on the vintage. The day before or two days before pressing, Jean-Yves performs foot-treading directly in the vat. After this fermentation, the musts are sent to barrels for aging on lees for twelve months in five hundred liter barrels of two or three wines (to limit the oaky sensation), followed by blending and resting in vats. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
In 2017, Jean-Yves Péron decided to expand his range by collecting organic grapes in the heart of the Italian Piedmont. The result has been several vintages, including this 100% Cortese white, an ancient grape variety often associated with Trebbiano or Garganega. Cortese produces a quality wine, fresh and tangy, with a straw yellow color with greenish highlights. This vintage was harvested for the first time in 2019, in Asti, in a cool microclimate that allows for fairly late ripening and, particularly this year, harvests in early October. It is a light and fresh wine, very digestible, with an alcohol content between 10 and 11 degrees, making it very easy to drink. It has a minerality due to the terroir and notes of citrus, especially lemon zest.

Syrah Rouge 2019,

Domaine des Miquettes
Domaine des Miquettes creatively and passionately combines the terroir and winemaking traditions of the Rhône with those of Georgia, whose viticulture is a model for Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille, the estate's founders. Located in Ardèche, south of the Saint-Joseph appellation, Paul trained with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two leading figures in 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, while the red grape varieties are planted on steep slopes, 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 with plant and clay decoctions. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work. The harvest is entirely manual.
The great specificity of the Domaine des Miquettes remains the use of Georgian techniques, inspired by their passion for 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 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, terracotta erases astringency and transmutes it into a velvety texture, a fruity and supple substance.
A Syrah of noble simplicity. Produced from vines planted in Ardèche, on plots with light soils of black mica granite, schist and gneiss on a granite base, this French wine seduces with a nose of red fruits that continues with a velvety, peppery and raspberry palate.

Volnay 1er Cru Les Lurets - Red 2019,

Domaine de Chassorney
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counterexample 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 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 exercise is not limited to Burgundy, as 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 plowing 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. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.
The Lurets plot, in AOC Volnay, produced this Pinot Noir. Its steep terroir, facing west-southeast, is located between 230 and 280 meters above sea level. The soils are primarily composed of pink limestone supported by white schist pebbles. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. Aging is approximately one year in barrels. This wine is as fleshy as you like, bursting with red and black fruits. It is elegant, subtle, complex, and harmonious.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Volnay 1er Cru Carelle Sous la Chapelle Rouge 2019

Domaine de Chassorney
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counterexample 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 plowing 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. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting. This Pinot Noir, classified as a premier cru, comes from a steep, west-facing plot at an altitude of approximately 280 meters, on marl-limestone soils. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. Aging is approximately one year in barrels. The name of the plot refers to the old chapel that can still be seen today on the edge of the road leading to Monthélie, in the lower part of the village. "Carelle" refers to the shape of the plot, from the Latin quadrus, "square".
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Saint Romain Combe Bazin Blanc 2019,

Domaine de Chassorney
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counterexample to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of unadulterated purity and elegance 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 plowing 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. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and coveted wines, which sometimes require waiting.
This Chardonnay comes from a steep plot facing east between 280 and 400 meters above sea level. The soils are mainly marl, limestone and clay. After a skin maceration, the aging is about a year in barrels. This climate is known for producing mineral, lively, sapid and persistent wines, with the added bonus of Burgundian smoothness.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

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.

Cuvée O Red 2014

Château Les Graves de Viaud

With this 2014 vintage, Domaine Les Graves de Viaud offers us a still red wine that perfectly embodies the natural elegance of the Côtes de Bourg. Made from biodynamically grown Cabernet Franc, this wine benefits from the Demeter and AB labels, guaranteeing practices that respect the land and the vines, without chemical additives or winemaking artifices. Here, nature expresses itself freely, revealing the authenticity of the Bordeaux terroir.

This exclusive cuvée (1,200 bottles) of Côtes-de-Bourg is composed of 60% Cabernet Franc. The vines grow on gently sloping hillsides with clayey gravel soils. Harvesting is done by hand, destemmed, and not crushed. Carried out in egg-shaped vats, the skin maceration is long: up to three months at a controlled temperature. Fermentation is done using indigenous yeasts, and no sulfur is added at bottling. This wine, as delicate as it is profound, has the distinction of being vegan (no animal products, therefore no egg-based fining). The nose, fresh and spontaneous, offers notes of plum, violet, and peony. The palate is pulpy, crisp, and fresh, seductive: mainly blackcurrant and blackberry. The tannins are silky and melted, yet powerful.

To the eye, this 2014 reveals a deep red color with garnet highlights, a sign of beautiful development. The nose opens generously after decanting, revealing aromas of ripe red fruits, morello cherry and raspberry, subtly enhanced by spicy notes and a vegetal touch typical of Cabernet Franc. On the palate, the attack is supple, giving way to fine and elegant tannins. The balance between freshness and structure is remarkable, with a persistent finish that reveals slightly peppery and mineral nuances.

This wine will pair wonderfully with dishes of character such as duck breast with figs, a gratin of root vegetables or even a platter of mature cheeses. Served between 16 and 18°C, it will reveal all its complexity after decanting.

With its 13.5% alcohol and its aging potential of 5 to 10 years, this 2014 vintage can be enjoyed now for its freshness or waited in the cellar for a deeper expression of its terroir.

Magnum Bigotes Bourgogne Blanc 2018, Frederic Cossard
The Bigotes white is made from a small plot of Chardonnay in the Bourgogne regional appellation. It is, in a way, the white counterpart of the Bedeau red. The aromatic attack is distinctly lemony and continues with yellow fruits. On the palate, tension, fullness, indulgence, a little fat and a lot of persistence. For a generic, it soars at a good height.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Pairs with: Grilled fish, Oysters and Shellfish

Fleur tropicale White 2018

Les Valseuses

Inspiration: a deeply soothing and voluptuous song by Francis Bebey. This whole-bunch macerated Jura Chardonnay evokes the same peace: sit back, glass in hand, and contemplate the beauty of the world.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

DH white 2013, Yann Durieux
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Organic Corsican Citron Eau de vie, Brana

Brana Distillery

The citrons come from small organic plantations located in Corsica. Once picked, they are transported by refrigerated truck. Upon arrival at the distillery, they are hand-cut and macerated in the eau-de-vie. The precise choice of alcohol and the optimal maceration point are the secrets of the production. The citron eau-de-vie is then aged in stainless steel vats to preserve the fresh, dense, and concentrated flavor of the fruit, clearly felt on the palate. The finish is long and elegant. Drink at 5-6° as an aperitif or digestif, for example with a chocolate dessert.