France

Les Bonnes Quilles Blanc 2023

Domaine de Bois-Moisset
Originating from Gaillac in Occitanie, organic and natural, Les Bonnes Quilles is a white wine from Domaine Bois-Moisset, obtained through light maceration and classified as a Vin de France. This marvel of balance and aroma will seduce you with its personality and adaptability to all occasions.

Vinification
Les Bonnes Quilles blanc is a blend of three grape varieties: Loin-de-l'œil 70%, Muscadelle 20%, and Sauvignon 10%. The vines grow on the clay-limestone molasse soils of the first slopes of Gaillac and the grapes are harvested by hand. The harvest is directly pressed with a short five-day maceration for the loin-de-l'œil, a Gaillac variety named for the length of its petiole.

Tasting
Les Bonnes Quilles deserves its name: great freshness, original aromas of pear and grapefruit with notes of rose. An endearing white wine where the macerated loin-de-l'œil plays the role of a spice. This wine for friends and good food, with its sunny and convivial profile, will accept solid pairings, nothing scares it: roasted white meats, beautiful poultry, grilled fish or fish in sauce, or country cuisine.

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

Cows and vines
The Bois-Moisset estate is also home to a herd of old local breed cows and guest rooms are available during the summer. It is in this small rural paradise that natural wines typical of their origin and their terroir are born, on fifteen hectares of boulbènes, gravelly and sandy-loam soils carried by the Tarn for thousands of years.

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

Syrah 3 coups Red 2021,

La Ferme de l'Arbre

The nose of this Trois Coups is expressive, laden with red fruits. This fruity sensation continues on the palate: the wine is rich and very balanced. Since it was a rainy year, the tannins are still a little green, but they will polish after two or three years of aging. Trois Coups' aging potential is also very great. It is made from Syrah grown on a plot of loess and granite, with manual harvesting. The grapes are macerated in stainless steel vats, whole bunches, for a good ten days. Punching down the cap is carried out morning and evening during fermentation. Pressing is done in a manual ratchet press. Half of the wine is aged in 220-liter barrels and the other half in stainless steel vats. Bottling takes place in early July, shortly before the following harvest.

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.

Pink Pong Rosé 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer
Pink Pong by Jean-Marc Dreyer is an Alsatian rosé wine with organic maceration (AB label), biodynamic, and natural, without added sulfites, made from a blend of three grape varieties in equal parts: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois. Until now, it only contained Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, but this year, Pinot Noir was predominant, and Pinot Gris was added to restore the balance and drinkability of this rosé.

Vinification
The vinification of Pink Pong is modeled on this winemaker's Origin cuvées. In this blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois grown biodynamically, the former gives it a bright red color. The grapes are macerated for around ten days in whole bunches. The wine is aged in foudres and demi-muids for eleven months. Biodynamic method, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, unfiltered, unclarified, no sulfites added in the vineyard or cellar.

Tasting
Sweet notes of cherry, a slight astringency of cranberry, rhubarb, wild strawberry, a herbaceous note, and a hint of white pepper. Jean-Marc Dreyer doesn't always blend grape varieties, but when he does, we take off our hats: through a fine and dense framework, beautiful notes of red fruits and spices emerge. A wine for a special occasion, a thirst-quenching wine too, Pink Pong has it all: dryness, acidity, freshness, structure... As for food and wine pairings, you are spoiled for choice, this wine with its strong character goes well with anything that is eaten: red meats, grilled meats, cured beef (cecina) and pata negra ham, Gascon black pork ham too, charcuterie... Serve it very cold.

Learn more about Jean-Marc Dreyer
Jean-Marc Dreyer, biodynamic and natural Alsace winemaker (AB organic certification label), succeeds several generations of his family at the Dreyer & Fils estate, created in 1830 between Obernai and Molsheim. Upon taking over the estate, he immediately opted for biodynamics. In 2009, upon returning from a pilgrimage to Compostela, he decided never to add sulfur to any wine again. Having made this decision, he asserted his style around skin maceration, accentuated, chiseled, bringing out the soul of Alsatian grape varieties. Jean-Marc also works with direct pressing and often with single varietals. He also produces Pinot Noir reds of surprising depth.

Maceration and Direct Press
Jean-Marc Dreyer's wines are characterized by whole-bunch maceration (but you should also taste his direct-press whites). "Maceration in Alsace," he says, "is an ancestral tradition! In the past, we worked by hand and let the grapes macerate before sending the marc to the press." Gentle oxidation is also a particular characteristic of his wines, generally vinified without topping up. Jean-Marc is best known for his "Origin" series, a finely macerated expression of Alsace grape varieties, but we invite you to discover his other wines.

Meadowsweet Spirits

Liqueurs Granier

This organic and artisanal meadowsweet liqueur is made by the Granier liqueur factory, near Annecy (Haute-Savoie). It's a true discovery, a very original liqueur with a variety of uses.

The Plant

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is the wild version of a garden plant called astilbe. Found in marshy areas and damp meadows, this plant from the Rosaceae family bears a pretty tuft of small white flowers. Fragrant, loved by bees and melliferous, it is above all very beneficial: rich in salicylic acid, it is at the origin of the manufacture of aspirin and has many medicinal virtues: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, healing, diuretic, vulnerary, digestive, etc., it fights against water retention, rheumatism and fever.

Manufacture

The meadowsweet and mallow flowers are picked in the Alps and macerated in water from the Boubioz spring, near Lake Annecy. The blend is made with organic wheat alcohol and organic sugar produced in the Vosges and the Palatine Forest. The other ingredients are Menton lemon zest and Timut pepper.

Tasting

A revelation with its exceptional aroma, its slightly vinous and fruity taste reminiscent of caramelized apple and black tea, with nuances of red port. This very fragrant liqueur surprises and seduces the palate, while communicating the medicinal virtues of meadowsweet. With its delicious flavor, this organic meadowsweet liqueur deserves to be enjoyed on its own, but also on ice, as a refreshing long drink, as an aperitif, a digestif, in cooking and in mixology. It will be served with delicious tapas: Iberian bellota ham, cecina or beef ham. On the sweet side, it goes with all pastries: cakes, gateaux, tartes …

Learn more about Granier liqueurs

The Granier liqueur factory — two brothers, Vincent and Stéphane Granier — produces artisanal liqueurs from the Haute-Savoie region. Flavor, sweetness, and balance are their great qualities, resulting from a meticulous and measured infusion technique to minimize extraction.

Wild or organically grown

The plants grown organically, or picked in the mountains surrounding Annecy, are obtained through short supply chains and for this reason reflect the flora of the steep meadows or gardens of Haute-Savoie. Everything is organic and additive-free, from the initial infusion to bottling.

Intact flavors

During the tasting, we were amazed by the Granier liqueurs, one after the other. Never before have we been given such fresh plant flavors by liqueurs. We have the sensation of tasting the plant itself, infused in all its singularity, supported by just the right amount of organic sugar (that is to say, little) produced in the Palatine Forest and just the right amount of alcohol. An organic beer alcohol that allows the plant to convey its message without interference. Not only is it delicious, but it is also an excellent digestif. Verbena, genepi, gentian, mint or meadowsweet, we guarantee you: you will have a good time.

Armagnac by Maurice 2009 Spirits

Hootch

Take advantage of it, not everyone has access to Armagnac by Maurice: organic (Demeter, AB, and Eurofeuille labels), artisanal, it is made by Maurice de Mandelaëre (Domaine de Saoubis), the only biodynamic Armagnac producer. Hootch is responsible for packaging and distributing this small-producer Armagnac with an alcohol content of 49.3%.

Production

100% Baco grape variety grown biodynamically in the Bas-Armagnac region, Armagnac de Maurice XO (Extra-Old) comes from a single barrel where it has been aged for 14 years. It is neither reduced nor filtered, and without coloring. No fertilizers or pesticides in the vineyards, no additives in the cellar. Neither reduced nor filtered, without coloring. Cuvée limited to 494 bottles.

Tasting

The Baco grape variety gives a beautiful complexity to the nose with aromas of vine flowers, bay leaf, spices, and exotic fruits. On the palate, there is great finesse and length with notes of vanilla, flan, tobacco, and flowers. Serve it as a digestif or a light pick-me-up, and you can even eat it with: pastries, desserts, fruits, or charcuterie such as peasant terrines. It will be served alongside beautiful poultry or roasted black Gascon pork.

Learn more about Hootch

Hootch is not a distillery but a distillery developer: created by two childhood friends, Martin and Thomas, it is dedicated to organic and artisanal French spirits, particularly Armagnac. Its mission is to discover small Armagnac producers who have been made invisible by competition from foreign spirits. Hootch packages and distributes these Armagnacs to make them accessible to a wider audience.

Armagnacs by Maurice

Maurice de Mandelaëre is the only biodynamic Armagnac producer (Demeter and AB certified). Its sublime spirits are made with the utmost respect for the soil, the ecosystem, and the environment. Whether old, hors d'âge, or blanche Armagnac (not aged in barrels), Armagnacs by Maurice form the basis of Hootch's catalog. It turns out that the entire production is organic, biodynamic and artisanal.

Discover Armagnac

This alcohol, the oldest in France, is so much more than a drop to flavor a Landes tourtière or a prune ice cream (even if we love that too)! Armagnac is complex, deep, multidimensional, the pure fruit of its terroir, and Hootch gives you a great opportunity to discover it.

Chateau Roulant Red 20/21

Benoit Camus
Château Roulant is a Beaujolais red wine, organic and natural (Ecocert certified), made from Gamay. Classified as a Vin de France, it is produced by Benoît Camus at his Pierre Dorées estate, in the south of the appellation. Its name evokes the itinerant life once led by the winemaker, a former seasonal agricultural worker.

Vinification
The Gamay vines of Beaujolais grow on clay-limestone soils. The very steep plots prohibit any mechanized work. The harvest, carried out by hand, undergoes a three-week semi-carbonic maceration. The wine is aged in concrete vats for fifteen months.

Tasting
The Beaujolais wines from Pierre Dorées are structured, long-lasting, and beautifully fruity. Here, after admiring a bright garnet color, we find strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, and cranberry, with a beautiful acidity in the mid-palate giving way to a rich and voluptuous finish. Freshness and acidity, leather, earth, and some animal notes. Wonderful richness in the mouth that we will enjoy accompanying with cold meats and cured meats, poultry such as pigeon or duck. Or even Red Meats .

Learn more about Benoît Camus
You might think he's itinerant, with his vintages called "Château roulant" or "Vagabond", but for Benoît Camus, it's a memory of his previous life, when he was a seasonal farmer in the Rhône Valley and as far as Roussillon. Since 2003, he has settled in Southern Beaujolais, in the Pierres Dorées terroir, to make organic (Ecocert) and natural wines.

Nature before, nature always
Before purchasing his seven-hectare estate from an old winemaker, the vines had not yet seen pesticides or chemical additives. Many in Beaujolais worked this way. He made his first vintage in 2006, "natural without knowing it," he says. A brief attempt at chemical spraying to treat grape worm definitively dissuaded him from adding anything to the vineyard or the cellar. He acquired Ecocert organic certification and continues to make natural wines.

The Pierre Dorées terroir
The southern Beaujolais, with its clay-limestone soils, produces wines that are more structured and powerful than those from the granite soils of the North. This is the profile presented by the reds of Benoît Camus, natural wines that are straight, dense and long-aging, with good acidity and well-integrated tannins, not forgetting abundant, rich and seductive fruit.

Vin de France Rafling Riesling White 2020

Frédéric Cossard

Fineness, fruitiness, balance, elegance, roundness, and integrity all at once, this Riesling in the Vin de France category has a lot to tell. Our own Frédéric Cossard, equally at home in Burgundian-style vinification (but without additives) as in the multi-hued refinements of merchant winemaking, now offers us a merchant Riesling vinified with skin-contact maceration. Don't nitpick too much about food and wine pairings, this one is tailored for all circumstances.

Learn 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 for a while 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 bought 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 vintages. 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 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.

Version Sud Rouge 2020

Fréderic Cossard
A beautiful, silky ruby ​​color, an intense nose of fruit and Mediterranean plants, and a profusion of red and black fruits with great freshness on the palate: this 100% Grenache comes from clay-limestone soil near Vaison-la-Romaine (Vaucluse), vinified for two weeks in whole bunches and aged for one year in concrete eggs. A true southern wine in the hands of a Burgundian virtuoso.

Learn more
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 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 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 trading house and bought 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.

Cuvée Carignan Rouge 2021

Fréderic Cossard
Here is a red wine from a southern grape variety vinified by a Burgundian master: Frédéric Cossard here takes on Carignan from the South, conveying its virtues with his usual dexterity. The blend includes a little Mourvèdre. Peppery, spicy, fruity (cherry), notes of undergrowth and well-integrated tannins, it is a delicious and fresh wine for all occasions.

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 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 trading house and bought 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.

Gabbrodo White 2021,

De Vini

The Gabbrodo 2021 from De Vini (Vinilibre) is an ode to the terroir of the Pays Nantais. This natural wine without any additives delicately expresses the Melon de Bourgogne, the region's emblematic grape variety. Made from gabbro soils, a rare volcanic rock in the Loire region, it benefits from a nine-month aging in sandstone jars, giving this exceptional white remarkable purity and tension.

Its pale color with golden highlights announces a luminous and crystalline wine. The nose seduces with its freshness and aromatic complexity: notes of citrus (lemon, grapefruit), white fruits (pear, peach), and a hint of iodine that recalls its maritime origins. On the palate, the attack is frank and lively, driven by beautiful acidity and sharp minerality. The aging in jars adds a silky texture while preserving the wine's tension and freshness. The finish is long and saline, with a delicately smoky persistence that invites further sipping.

The Gabbrodo 2021 is an ideal companion to seafood. It will enhance scallops with truffles, grilled lobster, sea bass in a salt crust, or pikeperch with beurre blanc. Serve between 10 and 12°C, it can be enjoyed now for its brilliant freshness or can be cellared for 5 to 10 years to reveal all its complexity.

Pierra Menta Blanc 2020

Jean Yves Peron
This is an exceptional dry white wine from Savoie made by Jean-Yves Péron. Produced organically, biodynamically, and from scratch on schist plots near Albertville, Pierra Menta is made from the Gringet grape variety. The winemaker plans to plant more vines of this ancient variety until he reaches half a hectare.

Vinification
Gringet, which makes up 100% of Pierra Menta, is a white grape variety native to Haute-Savoie, historically linked to the commune of Ayse, near Bonneville. Jean-Yves Péron's vines are planted near Albertville, on a south-facing mica-schist plot. Gringet has long been confined to the Bonneville region and traditionally produces low-alcohol, high-yield sparkling wines. It's an interesting grape variety that produces fruity, low-alcohol wines with quince notes and strong minerality. Pierra Menta's gringets are macerated for 15 days in carbonic acid with punching down, and aged for one year in new 300-liter barrels, some new and the rest from two wines.

Tasting
The quince is felt from the start, and the minerality superbly supports this note. White fruits, florality, lots of structure, and beautiful acidity. Incredible length, too... "One of the most beautiful wines I've made this year," says Jean-Yves. We thank him for this and move on to the food and wine pairings: fish, seafood, oysters, or the delicious spreads from Olio di Serra. Not forgetting the hummus and baba ghanouj from Terroirs du Liban.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies the grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow and steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, do not receive any synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then sent to barrels of two or three wines for aging for twelve months on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.

I Vicini Grignolino Red 2021

Jean Yves Peron
I Vicini Grignolino is an organic, biodynamic, and natural red wine vinified by Jean-Yves Péron from grapes harvested in Casale Monferrato (Piedmont). Jean-Yves Péron's "I Vicini" series is a red wine made from organic grapes harvested in Northern Italy. Here, the grape variety is Grignolino, known for producing relatively light-colored and very aromatic wines. This vintage is classified as a Wine of the European Community.

Vinification
Harvesting is done by hand. Maceration takes place for three months in vats with punching down, and aging is one year in terracotta amphorae.

Tasting
I Vicini Grignolino is an intense, powerful and structured wine, with a very pretty nose and a ruby ​​red color. Great freshness, beautiful structure, lots of aroma. Try it with country charcuterie from the Ferme de Mayrinhac or with a rabbit fricassee with red wine and porcini mushrooms: the raw material is found at the Ferme du Bois de Boulle.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.

Vin de Lies Blanc 2019/20

Jean Yves Peron
Vin de Lies is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine that Jean-Yves Péron makes every two vintages in his Savoyard cellars. It is based on a viticultural practice that is little known outside the profession, but which produces a highly appreciated wine. It is not normally sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is therefore a treat bestowed upon us by the winemaker.

Vinification
The Vin de Lies method consists of, after racking the barrels or aging vats, collecting all the lees in a single vat. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, which is decanted again and collected once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red obtained in this way is smoother, softer, and the white is less tense, rounder. To create this vintage, Jean-Yves Péron combined the lees from all his 2019 whites and some of those from 2020 (thus bringing together all his terroirs, both Savoyard and Italian). The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita (Vermentino), Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne…

Tasting
This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. “It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” "We can predict this moment of grace for next winter, which is upon us as this vintage is released. Pairings: it goes with everything. Beautifulpoultry, fine fish, seafood and shellfish…

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (jacquère, altesse, mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.

La Tour Sarazine Blanc 2021

Jean Yves Peron
La Tour Sarazine is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron, produced from a micro-plot of schist in his Albertville vineyard. Made from Muscat à Petit Grain, this macerated white is sometimes blended with Jacquère when the vintage is low-yielding.

Vinification
The La Tour Sarazine harvest is fermented using carbonic maceration for fifteen days. After pressing, it is aged for one year in 400-liter barrels. Unfiltered, unfined, no added sulfites.

Tasting
The Tour Sarazine has a very muscat profile – musky, floral, aromatic, exotic – reinforced by the mineral clarity of the Savoyard schist. For pairings, it’s a call to the imagination, between cheeses and cuisines from elsewhere: for the former, we recommend the ultra-creamy goudas from Maison Maris. To make the latter, don't hesitate to delve into the directory of spices from around the world collected by Épices Shira or in Cambodia by La Plantation.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (jacquère, altesse, mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.

Elderflower Liqueur 2022,

Distillerie Cazottes
This organic and natural elderflower liqueur from the Cazottes distillery, located in the Gaillac region (Tarn), has the Eurofeuille label. It is a wine-based aperitif, made from black elderberries grown in Laurent Cazottes' garden without pesticides or any chemical treatment.

Production
The elderflowers are harvested in the spring and only the petals are used, macerated in a homemade natural wine that can be made from Jurançon Noir or Prunelart grapes, depending on the vintage, and organic eau-de-vie from the estate. Thus, a frank and powerful aroma can be obtained. A little sugar (just enough to reduce the bitterness). A long resting time follows to harmonize the flavors of this Cazottes elderflower liqueur, which is 17% ABV.

Tasting
We close our eyes, we are in a Tarn garden in spring: the heavenly, frothy, creamy and fresh scent of elderflower in bloom is fully present. The color is light ruby, coral, cinnamon; the nose is spicy, woody, evoking blond tobacco and dried fruits. The overall note is that of both fruit and black elderflower. This Cazottes elderflower liqueur can be paired as an aperitif with a good cured ham, a dry sausage without nitrites or a delicious Spanish beef ham from maison Aitana.

Learn more about the Cazottes distillery
Laurent Cazottes, winemaker, distiller and natural liqueur maker, is a revealing quintessences. In Villeneuve-sur-Vère, near Gaillac (Tarn), he cultivates a veritable Eden of biodiversity. On limestone soil, he cares for fruit trees, vines, shrubs and vegetable plants that he transforms into wines, eaux-de-vie and liqueurs.

Production secrets
First of all, the integrity of the fruit and the vine, cultivated in certified organic (Eurofeuille and Nature & Progrès labels) and biodynamically, then attentive care given to their maceration at perfect maturity in the estate's organic eau-de-vie, and finally a precise and light dosage of sugar.

The Cazottes touch
"Liqueur does not mean sweet," Laurent likes to say. The unique feature of Cazottes liqueurs and eaux-de-vie is their faithfulness to the raw material: it is the whole fruit that is on the palate, with all its nuances and deliciousness. They are low in alcohol and low in sugar: they are exceptional nectars.

Le Cordières des Andes Rouge 2021

Fond Cyprès
Balanced, rustic, deep, with a superb texture on the palate, the Cordières des Andes lingers on a fresh finish. This appellation, which plays playfully on words, includes the Corbières de Fond Cyprès, which has simply changed its name. You may therefore already know it by its former name. Far from any Andean references, this is a magnificent red wine, well-defined by its terroir, produced from a blend of equal parts Grenache du Bois Saint-Jaume, Carignan de la Source, and Syrah de la Pinède, vinified separately and blended in barrels. Offering great aging potential, it is perfect for drinking or keeping. This classified Vin de France vintage is refined, chiseled, and lovingly crafted; it can be described as the synthesis of the estate that gave birth to it. Serve it with anything good you have; it has a very broad back when it comes to pairings.

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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 us, wines with character, attached to our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the old Corbières massif, they took over an old heart of an estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache vines, which had seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean and vibrant soils are ideal conditions for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. Vinification is carried out without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first evaluated by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. Fond Cyprès wines poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: pine forests, shaded springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the signature of the soil. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, plant environment and fruit expression, Fond Cyprès wines reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.

Gigondas Rouge 2021

Les Grandes Serres
Gigondas! A great terroir whose very name evokes the earthiness, indulgence, and depth of a traditional wine already beloved in the time of popes and knights. Its vines of Grenache Noir (predominantly), Syrah, and Mourvèdre grow peacefully in Vaucluse, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and production is exclusively red and rosé. The reds are renowned for their depth, density, and aging qualities, their notes of black cherry, and their structure. They have the characteristic of "truffing" as they age, which is hardly surprising in a country where truffles grow. This Gigonda is part of the organic and natural Comics range from the Castel-Papal des Grandes Serres estate. Unlike most Gigondas where Grenache Noir is the majority, it is composed of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache. The Syrahs are planted on sandy soil and the Grenaches grow on calcareous-gravelly soil. The quality of the grapes is exceptional and the wine conveys this information well. The harvest is manual, destemmed, and fermented in concrete vats and demi-muids. Moderate punching down is necessary for good extraction. The wine is aged for six months in vats before bottling.

To find out more
Everyone knows where Châteauneuf-du-Pape is, but how well do we really know this appellation? The Domaine des Grandes Serres represents both its excellence and its vitality. Produces 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 and the Costières de Nîmes. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape itself, the estate owns twelve hectares. Created 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, without publicly boasting 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 additives. Covering the entire range of white and red wines from the South 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 solid and serious, in addition to being fresh and tasty.

Mercurey - Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2021

Fréderic Cossard

Fresh, wild, and intense, this Mercurey is definitely a pleasure to drink with abandon. Morello cherries, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, and complexity on the nose give way to floral, then mineral and roasted notes. On the palate, there is plenty of fruit, sap, fullness, and density, with silky, melted tannins of great finesse, completely devoid of harshness. A long, fruity, and distinguished finish. Les Vignes Blanches is a Mercurey vineyard where Frédéric Cossard is producing his third vintage. For the occasion, the winemaker vinified and aged it in qvevri (a Georgian-style buried jar), which gives it a patina, rounds it out, and accentuates its velvety texture and depth. Perfect for entrecôte, filet of beef en croûte, and roast duck.

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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 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 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.

Gevrey Chambertin les Genevrières Qvevris Rouge 2021

Fréderic Cossard
The profile of a great classic red Burgundy with the freedom and breadth of nature. Black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, peony, red rose, delicately spiced, a touch wild… So many distinguished notes for this 2021 "Les Genevrières" cuvée from our precious Saint-Romain winemaker. This long and persistent, very intense Gevrey-Chambertin comes from vines growing in the beautiful Genevrières climate, which rests on a limestone base. Vinification in qvevri (Georgian-style buried jars) begins with two weeks of whole-bunch maceration, followed by gentle pressing to preserve the fruit. The terracotta gives even more velvety texture, sensuality, and complexity to a wine that already offered plenty of it.

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 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 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 you sometimes have to know how to wait.

Auxerrois Origin Blanc 2021

Jean-Marc Dreyer
Auxerrois, also known as Pinot Blanc, is a typically Alsatian grape variety that forms the basis of this Auxerrois Origin from Jean-Marc Dreyer. Floral, fresh, and seductive, it is both atypical and indulgent, well-defined by the maceration process, which gives it a distinguished texture. Its alcohol content is quite generous (14% alcohol). Whole-bunch maceration gives this dense and dry wine, with its delicious salinity, amber tones, floral notes, and sensations of perfect purity. Acorn-fed Ibérico ham would melt with joy alongside it. Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range is dedicated to single-varietal wines made using skin-contact maceration based on the six white grape varieties of Alsace: Sylvaner, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Muscat. This wine is produced using the biodynamic method, fermented using indigenous yeasts, and is unfiltered and unclarified.

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"Maceration in Alsace is an ancestral tradition!" says Jean-Marc Dreyer, adding that direct pressing in this region is a modern invention, linked to the advent of electricity. In the past, people worked by hand and let the grapes macerate before sending the marc to the press." Whole-bunch maceration is Jean-Marc Dreyer's signature and represents 85% of the estate's production, with the remainder consisting of direct-pressed whites, aged without coal. Jean-Marc succeeds several generations of his family at the Dreyer & Fils estate, established in 1830 between Obernai and Molsheim. Upon taking over the estate, he immediately opted for biodynamics, but he hesitated for a while between several methods: at the beginning, his wines were more oaky, aged in new barrels with stirring. Then, a sweet period: all his wines contained residual sugar. In 2008, he tried vinifying without any sulfur and found his direction: the following winter, upon returning from the pilgrimage to Compostela, he decided to no longer add sulfites to his wines. Having made this decision, he asserted his style around skin maceration, quite extensive, chiseled, always surprising on Alsatian grape varieties, whose structure it brings out without sacrificing delicacy. Jean-Marc works in single-varietal or blended vintages and also produces Pinot Noir reds of surprising depth.