France

Fond 1er Jus Rouge 2020,

Fond Cyprès
This Languedoc estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already had a clear objective: "to produce southern wines that reflect our style, wines with character, rooted in our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to create entirely natural wines, concentrated expressions of terroir. In the heart of the ancient Corbières massif, they are taking over an old estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache grapes, which have seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean, vibrant soils are ideal conditions for launching into natural winemaking. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. The vinification is done without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first assessed by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. The wines of Fond Cyprès poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: the pine forests, the shady springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the soil's signature. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, vegetal environment and fruit expression, the wines of Fond Cyprès reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.
Premier Jus is a blend of Carignan and Grenache grown on marl-limestone soils. The two harvests are processed separately: the Carignan is macerated for two days in whole bunches, then added to the Grenache must in direct pressing and during fermentation. Everything is pressed directly. A six-month aging in barrels precedes bottling without the addition of sulfites. This wine is the very image of a gurgling pleasure: a juicy bomb that oscillates between light red and dark rosé. Fresh, fruity, delicious, addictive, it awakens the spirit dulled by the summer heat.
Natural wine without added sulfites.

Puligny Montrachet Blanc 2019,

Fréderic Cossard
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 coveted wines, which sometimes need to be waited for.
Puligny-Montrachet is one of the most prestigious appellations of Burgundy; some wine lovers consider it the quintessential white. A marvelous fusion of richness and dryness, it has great aging potential. With age, its aromas lean more and more towards earthy, mineral, with smoky accents and a magnificent affinity with truffle. In the meantime, it's difficult to list its pairings, as this unique wine has the gift of harmonizing with everything that is good. Still young, reserve it for fine poultry and white meats.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Les Cristallines William Pear Brandy

Domaine Brana

The Brana house, in the Basque country, is a staple of fruit brandies. Throughout the great Southwest of France and beyond, as far away as Paris and beyond, its name is immediately recognized as a classic of quality brandy. Established in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for over a century, the house was originally dedicated to the wine and spirits trade. In 1974, Étienne and Adrienne Brana founded the distillery and planted a William pear orchard: the famous "Poire Brana" would soon be born. Later, their children, Martine and Jean, took over the business and developed the precious family know-how. While Martine, at the distillery, continued to innovate with fruits, spices, and plants, her brother Jean took care of the vines planted in 1984, in AOP Irouléguy. In addition to the wines, these terraced vines on the hillside are the source of the marc that makes the house brandy. "A Brana pear, please!" Many of us have heard this phrase on the terraces of our cafés or in the best bars. For many, the name Brana has become synonymous with pear brandy. To make it, pears from the Brana orchard, picked at the peak of ripeness, are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The resulting pear wine is then kept away from air so as not to undergo any alteration before its distillation, carried out in red copper pot stills. This traditional slow process allows for strict control of the process to ensure the quality and finesse of the eau-de-vie. Similarly, aging is carried out in stainless steel vats to preserve the freshness of the fruit and to avoid any woody notes. Bottling takes place when the eau-de-vie reaches its optimal point of maturity. It is a nectar that is immediately recognizable on the nose by its crystalline finesse, its elegance, its aromatic power expressing the quintessence of the pear. One has the impression, from the attack, of biting into the fruit. The finish, smooth, fine and long, continues to send the pear signal with force. Perfect conclusion to a good meal. Consume well chilled, between 5 and 6 °C.

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.

Les Cadets Rouge 2019

Château Les Graves de Viaud
A typical Bordeaux blend, the Côtes-de-Bourg of the Les Cadets cuvée is composed of Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc, 70%) and Merlot (30%) grown on iron-rich silty gravel and clayey gravel, and co-fermented in stainless steel vats for better synergy between the grape varieties. Vinification begins with a cold prefermentative maceration and continues with a gentle, slow extraction. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts; no sulfites are added. The wine is aged in sandstone amphorae for at least ten months on fine lees to refine the tannins. The geological conditions give the Cabernets a refreshing tannic base and accentuate the roundness and fruitiness of the Merlot, while giving it a very seductive floral aromatic palette. The bouquet of blackcurrant and blackberry that appears on the nose is confirmed on the palate. 2019 is still young as we write these lines: this wine will wait a few years, and it will only get better for it.

Rhum Symphonie Bach 50.9°, Longueteau Distillery
A blend of very old agricultural rums aged over three years in cognac barrels and new oak barrels, Symphonie asserts itself with boldness and complexity. An old rum with notes of caramel and spices, aged and matured to perfection. The symphony is made of the different tones of the old vintages that make up this fine and intense rum. A meditation rum, made for Havana cigars and great dark chocolates.

Cadé Meu Carnaval Sparkling White 2019

Les Valseuses
50% Chardonnay, 40% Ugni, and 10% Sauvignon. Inspiration: Geraldo Azevedo. But where has my carnival gone? asks this vintage, and it won't take long to find the answer: the party will begin as soon as the bottle is opened, because this undisgorged pet' nat' exudes good humor.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Cachaça “traditional” Magnifica de Faria

This exceptional still cachaça (40°), made from pure cane juice, will captivate you from the moment you open the bottle with its surprisingly sweet, aromatic, and floral aroma, and on the palate with its voluptuous notes of exotic fruits (banana, guava).
It is distilled from local sugarcane by João Luiz de Faria on his fazenda do Anil, near from Rio de Janeiro, since 1985. The cane fields and the factory are located in a natural park, with a pure water source within easy reach. The entire process, from field to bottle, takes place on site. The cane is pressed the same day it is harvested to preserve its freshness and original properties. Fermentation, in stainless steel vats, uses local natural yeasts and lasts eighteen hours. Distillation is done in a triple Alegria still, unique in Brazil, in limited production.
With this, you will make the most beautiful caipirinhas in the world (we recommend being light on the sugar to highlight the finesse of this cachaça). A big favorite of the Culinaries team.

Bows Vodka Single HOP Aroc, Bows

BOWS Distillery
Notes of tropical fruits, cereals, and flowers (from Evil?) for a smooth, indulgent, rounded, and slightly spicy vodka. Slow distillation gives it its purity and freshness. Delicate notes of wheat emerge, ending with a long, herbaceous finish. Enjoy iced with caviar or, in a more Occitan style, with bottarga.

Magnum Fetembulles White 2015

Les Vignes de l'Ange Vin

Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Belzebrut White 2018

Domaine La Sorga

Made from 100% Colombard from basalt soils in the Hérault Valley, this is a very pleasant natural sparkling wine. The grapes are pressed directly and the must is not settled. It is aged on slats for six months. The wine is bottled by gravity and disgorged by Antony. This wine has mineral and floral notes that are perfect as an aperitif or dessert. Aging potential: five years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Pairs with: Cheeses, Desserts

Syrah Light Red 2016,

Domaine Le temps retrouvé

A high-flying Syrah. Produced from clay-limestone plots in the Banyuls region, the Syrah Light cuvée is distinguished, as its name suggests, by its freshness and a lightness worthy of a romance novel. Slightly peppery notes appear on the nose, and aromas of blackcurrant and black berries appear on the palate.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

L'Harmonie Red 2014

Domaine Le Temps Retrouvé

A beautiful blend of southern grape varieties, this Roussillon red is composed of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan from vines growing on clay-siliceous soils. Harmonie is a wine of patience, obtained through long-term maceration and aging, which gives it a dark color, a powerful nose, and intense aromas of black fruits. Decant for a few hours before tasting to fully appreciate its fullness.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.