France

Vervain by Vincent Spiritueux

Liqueurs Granier

The Granier liqueur house offers its first Vervain liqueur, the one that launched the house's beginnings. Entirely organic, artisanal, and sourced locally, it is Vincent's Vervain, Vincent Granier's, who lovingly created its recipe.

The Plant

Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) is a favorite in cottage gardens. A member of the Verbenaceae family, it is cultivated for its fragrant leaves, with a slight hint of lemon peel. It is tonic, calming, fever-reducing, antispasmodic, and digestive. The one infused for this liqueur was grown organically and harvested by hand in the Alps.

Production

To the Vervain are added organic lemon zest (from Menton), organic coriander seeds and lemongrass grown biodynamically in Egypt (the closest and most eco-friendly place to find 100% natural lemongrass). The plants and spices are infused in the natural water of the Boubioz spring, near Lake Annecy, and the alcohol is made from 100% organic wheat. The organic sugar is produced in the Palatine Forest.

Tasting

This organic and artisanal Vervain is sweet and caressing, very fresh, and is not heavy in alcohol or sugar. Easy to drink, it can be enjoyed as an aperitif, in a shot, in mixology and as a digestif. We love pairing it with fine charcuterie, for example terrines or hams from the Ferme de Mayrinhac.

Learn more about Granier liqueurs

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

Wild or organically grown

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 without additives, from the initial infusion to bottling.

Intact flavors

During the tasting, we were amazed by the Granier liqueurs, one after the other. Never have such fresh plant flavors been restored to us 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's also an excellent digestif. Vervain, genepi, gentian, mint, or meadowsweet—we guarantee you'll have a great time.

Génépi Spirits

Liqueurs Granier
Génépi is "the" Savoyard liqueur; it doesn't get more regional than this. It's entirely organic and artisanal, made by the Granier brothers in the Annecy region and sourced locally.

The Plant
The name "génépi" refers to a family of small alpine wormwoods of the genus Artemisia that are harvested between 2,500 and 3,500 meters above sea level. These highly aromatic and medicinal plants (fighting colds, viral illnesses and digestive disorders) are the main ingredient of the most emblematic liqueur of Haute-Savoie.

Production
Génépi is harvested in the Alps and dried before infusion in 96% organic wheat alcohol, before blending with an organic sugar syrup made by a landowner harvesting in the Palatine Forest. The water comes from the Boubioz spring, near Lake Annecy. No additives are added during production. The liqueur, aged in rum barrels, includes coriander seeds and lemon zest. Unlimited aging potential.

Tasting
Floral, aromatic and of great purity, this liqueur flies the flag of Alpine génépi high. The balsamic note of génépi initially manifests itself with great amplitude and persists in the mouth, supported by light spices (coriander and lemon). A success, to be associated with raw fish or smoked fish of all kinds and of course smoked salmon. The best pairing will be with a raclette.

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
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 without additives, from the initial infusion to bottling.

Intact flavors
During the tasting, we were amazed by the Granier liqueurs, one after the other. Never have such fresh plant flavors been restored to us by liqueurs. We have the sensation of tasting the plant itself, infused in all its singularity, supported by just the right amount of sugar (that is to say, little) organically 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's also an excellent digestif. Verbena, genepi, gentian, mint, or meadowsweet—we guarantee you'll have a great time.

Morey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Qvevris Red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

This great organic and natural red Burgundy wine is produced by Frédéric Cossard. Made entirely from Pinot Noir (a Pinot Fin variety), it is produced in the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation and comes from the "Les Champs de la Vigne" climate. Its distinctive feature is its terracotta aging, which suits it well.

Vinification

The vines grow on a clay-limestone plot and are around sixty years old. They are made from Pinot Fin grapes, an old strain of Pinot Noir that is increasingly rare in Burgundy. The harvest macerates in whole bunches and the wine is aged in qvevri (Georgian-style terracotta jars) for at least a year. This maturation gives it a velvety patina and allows its red fruit aromas to flourish.

Tasting

Typical of the Morey-Saint-Denis climate, this Champs de la Vigne is a powerful and complex wine, offering notes of violet and red fruits. It expresses opulent fruit and remarkable minerality. Great elegance and finesse, silky and satiny with a lovely earthy and mineral nuance. The qvevri accentuates its fruitiness and the melting tannins. It will be a pleasure to pair it with grilled duck breast, grilled meats, beef, charcuterie and salted meats.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give the floor to organic and natural wines from Burgundy (and elsewhere), undistorted by agricultural chemistry, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.

Between viticulture and trade

Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney 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 trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature

At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

Mercurey Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

The "Les Vignes Blanches" vintage is an organic and natural red wine from the Bourgogne-Mercurey appellation. It is produced by Frédéric Cossard, exclusively from Pinot Noir and aged in terracotta containers (qvevris).

Vinification

Les Vignes Blanches is a climat in the Mercurey appellation with clay-limestone soil. Frédéric Cossard vinified and aged it in qvevri (Georgian-style buried jars), which gives it a patina, rounds it out, and accentuates its velvety texture and depth. It is aged for one year.

Tasting

Fresh, wild, and intense, this Mercurey "Les Vignes Blanches" is a pleasure to drink with abandon. Morello cherries, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, complexity on the nose, giving way to floral then mineral and roasted notes. On the palate, there is plenty of fruit, sap, breadth, and density, with silky, melted tannins of great finesse, completely devoid of harshness. Long, fruity, and distinguished finish. Made for the rib steak, the beef fillet, the roast duck, the fine charcuterie.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give the floor in organic and natural mode to Burgundy wines (and moreover), not distorted by agricultural chemistry, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.

Between viticulture and trade

Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney 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 trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature

At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

Chambolle Musigny Les Herbues Red 2022,

Fréderic Cossard

This Chambolle-Musigny "Les Herbues" is an organic, natural white wine produced in Burgundy by Frédéric Cossard. It comes from the Les Herbues vineyard, from which it takes its name. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, it is classified under the Burgundy Chambolle-Musigny AOP.

Vinification

The Les Herbues plot is located between 250 and 300 meters above sea level. The clayey terroir, exposed to the east, rests on hard, fissured limestone formations that allow the roots to plunge into the subsoil. The Pinot Noir grapes macerate in whole bunches. Aging is approximately one year in barrels.

Tasting

Beautiful garnet color, finesse, elegance, density and uprightness. This Chambolle-Musigny “Les Herbues” is a complex and delicate red wine based on the aromas of raspberry, candied strawberry and violet with a touch of undergrowth, licorice and cocoa. Floral finish reminiscent of red rose. This clear and silky wine will be a delight with a gourmet meal as well as with local dishes. It is of course very compatible with Red Meats, game, charcuterie and cured meats.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give the floor in organic and natural mode to Burgundy wines (and elsewhere), undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, its wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.

Between viticulture and trade

Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney 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 trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature

At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

Version Sud Rouge 2022

Fréderic Cossard
One hundred percent Grenache is the composition of Version Sud by Frédéric Cossard, an organic and natural red wine vinified in Burgundy from organic grapes harvested in the Vaucluse region.

Vinification
The Grenache grapes used to make Version Sud are harvested near Vaison-La-Romaine, in northern Provence, on clay-limestone soils. The vinification begins with a two-week maceration of whole bunches, without exogenous yeasts or added sulfur, and ends with a one-year aging in concrete eggs.

Tasting
The nose of Version Sud is intensely fruity, highlighted by garrigue plants. The ruby ​​color is superb and silky. On the palate, red and black fruits abound and are fresh. A true Provençal Rhône wine in the hands of this Burgundian virtuoso, Frédéric Cossard.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate
Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate give voice to the terroirs and wines of Burgundy and elsewhere in an organic and natural way, undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever his grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and innovative.

Between viticulture and trade
Frédéric Cossard created the Chassorney estate 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 trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature
At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended biodynamically, the harvest is manual, carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

La Petite Robe Blanc 2019 Magnum

Jean Yves Peron
La Petite Robe is one of Jean-Yves Péron's cult vintages. It is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine made in Savoie from the Jacquère grape variety grown in the Les Marches area, on clay-limestone and granite soils, at the foot of Mont Granier. The vintage is classified as a Vin de France. The magnum format accentuates the clarity and depth of this beautiful wine.

Vinification
The vines are around fifty years old. After a manual harvest, the grapes undergo carbonic maceration for two weeks. The wine is aged for one year in 34 hl foudres. No filtration, fining, or addition of sulfites.

Tasting
Delicious and crisp, La Petite Robe is a great success from Jean-Yves Péron, who crafts this typically Savoyard white grape variety with the precision provided by the limestone soils. The Jacquère gives its most opulent side here, delicious, fruity, fleshy, with volume in the mouth. Notes of spindle, white fruits, beautiful balance and great intensity, combined with a note of controlled oxidation. La Petite Robe is an ideal maceration white wine for raw or cooked seafood, which it will highlight with its mineral straightforwardness. You can try grilled abalone, smoked scallops from Normandy smokehouse or Mediterranean smokehouse, raw clams or steamed.

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 winery in Chevaline, 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, steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, 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 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.

Italo-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 White 2019/20 Magnum

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 regarded 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. And I might as well tell you that the magnum format makes it an even more monumental treat... The roundness and polish of the wine are further enhanced;

Vinification

The lees wine method consists, after racking the barrels or aging tanks, of gathering all the lees in a single tank. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, which is again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red obtained in this way is smoother, softer, and the white is less tense, rounder. To make 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 cuvée is released. Pairings: it goes with everything. Beautiful poultry, 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.

i Vicini Moscato Blanc 2021 Magnum

Jean Yves Peron
I Vicini Moscato is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron. Vinified in Savoie using Muscat d'Asti. It is part of the I Vicini cuvées series, vinified in Savoie using organic grapes from Northern Italy. The Muscats grow on very fine, calcaro-magnesian limestone soils, on a particularly cool site. The fullness of this beautiful wine is magnified by the magnum format.

Vinification
The Muscat d'Asti grapes, harvested manually at good phenolic maturity, macerate for three months in vats on the skins, with punching down. Racking off in January, aging for one year in 300-liter barrels. No filtration, fining, or addition of sulfites.

Tasting
Straightness, tension, and freshness: this very beautiful mountain Muscat offers the aromatic and musky nose specific to the grape variety, without any syrupy notes. A very present tannic structure balances the whole. On the palate, it is rich and powerful; we find the charming scent of Muscat in the retro-olfaction, but with the tension and freshness that Jean-Yves Péron favors for his dry whites. It’s a great table wine, not really for an aperitif, but for gastronomy, no limits.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron skillfully embodies 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, steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semicarbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then sent 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.

i Vicini Reserve Rouge 2018/19

Jean Yves Peron
I Vicini Réserve is an organic, biodynamic, and natural red wine. This is a new cuvée made by Jean-Yves Péron from organic grapes harvested in Piedmont. These are Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) and Barbera grapes grown in Casale Monferrato. This vintage is classified as a Wine of the European Community.

Vinification
The harvest is manual. The Pinot Noir undergoes carbonic maceration for fifteen days, and the Barbera undergoes long maceration. Aging is three and four years, respectively, in 225-liter barrels. No filtration, no fining, no sulfiting.

Tasting
I Vicini Réserve carries within it the best of Piedmontese red wine. Both delicate and powerful, it is distinguished by a velvety palate and plenty of morello cherry on the nose and palate. It is a great charmer that will seduce on any occasion, alongside a beautiful piece of roast lamb or quality white meat, for example Black Bigorre Pork roasted in the oven (rack, loin, filet mignon, tenderloin tip, etc.). We also dare to recommend him with a first-class cassoulet.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron skillfully embodies 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.

Les Oeillets White 2021

Jean Yves Peron

Les Œillets is a dry white maceration wine harvested and vinified in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron. Organic, biodynamic and natural, this is a 100% Jacquère white wine whose vines grow on clay-limestone soil, in the place called Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier.

Vinification

It is roughly the same terroir as that of La Petite Robe, harvested later to obtain greater phenolic maturity and a higher tannic concentration. Carbonic maceration for four or five days is followed by ten days of punching down in vats. At least one year of aging in 225-liter barrels. Neither fined, nor filtered, nor sulfited.

Tasting

Superbly structured, Les Œillets has chew, texture, a tannic mouthfeel and a note of controlled oxidation. The tension is strong, balanced by a note of apricot. Woody, with explosive minerality and beautiful tension, it is an atypical white, with powerful aromatic notes. Lots of fruit and candied citrus. With this, you can enjoy a good Bigorre black ham, unless a smoked salmon presents itself. Or, the best of the best, treat yourself: an exceptional beef ham from Maison Aitana, made from wagyu or black angus.

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.

Folle noire liqueur 2016,

Distillerie Cazottes

This organic and natural folle noire liqueur from the Gaillac region (Tarn) bears the Eurofeuille and Nature & Progrès labels. It is made from grapes of the typical Gaillac variety called folle noire or Jurançon noir. This grape variety produces large, juicy bunches with a delicate flavor. An original recipe from the Cazottes distillery, without chemical pesticides, colorings, or additives.

Production

To obtain this folle noire liqueur, the grapes are harvested in mid-September and fermented naturally using indigenous yeasts. As soon as the juice reaches 2 to 3 degrees of alcohol, an organic brandy of the same grape variety, distilled on the estate by Laurent Cazottes, is added to stop the fermentation. This is called mutage sur grains (grain fortification). This method allows the best aromas to be preserved and the alcohol content to be moderated (18%).

Tasting

A lovely amber red color, a delicate taste of fresh grapes, round and fruity. The Folle Noire liqueur from the Cazottes estate is reminiscent of the best Cartagenes from Roussillon with its supple and melted tannins, its aromas of fresh grapes and candied plum. This organic and delicate spirit will be a perfect companion for cured meats of beef or pork, mature cheeses or blue-veined cheese, or red fruit desserts.

Learn more about the Cazottes distillery

Laurent Cazottes, winemaker, distiller, and natural liqueur maker, is a revealer of quintessences. In Villeneuve-sur-Vère, near Gaillac (Tarn), he cultivates a veritable Eden of biodiversity. On limestone soil, he cultivates fruit trees, vines, shrubs and vegetable plants, which 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 careful attention 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 particularity of Cazottes liqueurs and eaux-de-vie is their fidelity to the raw material: it is the whole fruit that we have in our mouths, with all its nuances and its delicacy. They are low in alcohol, low in sugar: they are exceptional nectars.

Le Carignan de la Source Rouge 2021

Fond Cyprès
Languedoc to the tips of its nails, delicate, dense, and fresh, fruity and generous, all freshness and delicacy: a beautiful, lively and spicy bottle, with lovely notes of leather and undergrowth, and well-integrated tannins that don't attack the palate. Coming from a sixty-year-old limestone-marl Carignan plot, this wine, after hand-harvesting and destemming, is fermented for four weeks in concrete vats. The wine is then aged for twelve months in old demi-muid (barrels of 500 to 650 liters) which has the quality of not oaking the wine but ensuring a comfortable, gentle aging. With its ripe and evolved tannins, this classified Vin de France cru offers great aging potential, but we can already start drinking it. A lively bottle, to be paired with everything that the Western Mediterranean coast (Languedoc, Roussillon, Catalonia, Valencia region, etc.) has to offer. We obviously don't forget the region east of the Rhône: Provençal, Italian, Greek cuisines, etc. Keep for around ten years.

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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 wanted to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the old Corbières massif, they took over an old heart of the estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache, which had not seen any fertilizer or pesticides for years: these clean and living soils were an ideal condition 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. 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 signature of the soil. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, plant environment, and fruit expression, the wines of Fond Cyprès reflect the South of France: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.

La Syrah de la Pinède Rouge 2021

Fond Cyprès
Dense, full-bodied, and generous, this Syrah is ready to drink but can still wait. Classified as a Vin de France, it carries the freshness and shade of its forest environment and a certain gravity that is not uncommon in Corbières wines based on this type of blend. It features notes of garrigue and Mediterranean herbs. Coming from a plot of young vines (between sixteen and twenty years old) exposed to the north and the northwest wind, bordered by pines and cypresses which protect and refresh it, the Syrah harvest used to make this wine is destemmed, gently extracted, fermented in concrete vats, and the wine is aged for one year in old barrels. It is a true wine of the South, born of the sun and a faithful reflection of the earth.

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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 have a clear objective: "to produce wines from the South that reflect us, wines of 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.

Adonis Rouge 2021

La Grapperie
Tuffeau, tuffeau, and always tuffeau! The porous mineral emblematic of the Loir hillsides contributes to producing refined and distinguished wines. This Adonis red is draped in a beautiful garnet color, giving way to a complex nose of red fruits: strawberry, cherry, smoked blackberry, sweet herbs... On the palate, a beautiful structure between black pepper and raspberry. Spicy and peppery, with a lovely sweet and yeasty note on the attack that adds to its deliciousness, Adonis is made from 100% Pineau d'Aunis, a fiery and light grape variety, one of the oldest in the Loire Valley. It is entirely made from old vines (seventy-five years old) planted in the Coteaux du Loir appellation, on soils dominated by tuffeau, clay and flint. The harvest is manual, transported by horse. The harvest is fermented for three weeks in whole bunches with light crushing, using indigenous yeasts. It is aged for six months in vats; no oak therefore seasons the purity of the Pineau d'Aunis. A marvel, to drink as an aperitif to warm up, or to serve on the table for varied and refined pairings.

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In the Coteaux du Loir appellation, La Grapperie is the name of the estate of Renaud Guettier, who can be described as a master of Chenin, but also of Pineau d'Aunis, which is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Loire Valley. His principle, he confides, is "to produce complex, rich wines with good aging potential and imbued with the minerality of their terroir." The vines are located on hillsides, between 60 and 120 meters above sea level, protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are dominated by clay (at the bottom of the slope), flint (mid-slope) or sand (on the higher ground). The 60-hectare vineyard comprises around fifteen plots. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized varieties in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the remainder consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay and Grolleau. The average age of the vines is seventy years, including almost two hectares of century-old vines and one and a half hectares of vines aged sixty to eighty years. Convinced of the enormous potential that these old vines can bring to his vintages, Renaud is meticulous in restoring the vineyard. The entire estate is cultivated organically. The soils are worked and all viticultural interventions are manual, including the harvest, carried out at full maturity, which is reflected in the fullness and smoothness of the wines. For the reds, the Pineaux d'Aunis are partially destemmed (depending on the plot) and the macerations are quite long, three to four weeks, with punching down, to promote aging potential. The wines are aged in barrels for between twelve and twenty-four months, then racked, blended and bottled without filtration. For the whites, the Chenins are pressed directly at low pressure and then barreled by gravity. Fermentation takes place in barrels, using indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.

Puligny Montrachet Blanc 2021

Fréderic Cossard
Frédéric Cossard vinifies several Puligny-Montrachet crus, including this one without a climate indication, but endowed with all the graces of this great white wine appellation from the Côte de Beaune, one of the most prestigious in Burgundy. Some wine lovers consider Puligny-Montrachet the quintessential white; it is, at the very least, the region's greatest white cru. A marvelous fusion of richness and dryness, it has great aging potential. With age, its aromas lean increasingly toward earthy, mineral notes, with smoky accents and a magnificent affinity with truffle. Meanwhile, it is difficult to list its pairings, such is the gift this unique wine has for harmonizing with all that is good. Still young, reserve it for fine poultry and white meats.

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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 as a wine broker for some time before creating the Chassorney estate with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own wine trading house and buys organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy since vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular ploughing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and coveted wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Monts Luisants Rouge 2021

Fréderic Cossard
This is a very rare, dense, and elegant Morey-Saint-Denis, bursting with fresh fruit aromas. It reveals itself to be complex and powerful, with red fruits and violet aromas. This captivating wine promises to improve for a long time (aging potential of around ten years). The small clay-limestone plot of Monts-Luisants is located above the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. The Pinot Noir planted here is of the Pinot Fin variety, a very old and increasingly rare strain. The vines are around seventy years old. The harvest is macerated in whole bunches and aged for one year in barrels.

To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked 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 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.

Volnay 1er Cru Les Roncerets Rouge 2021

Domaine de Chassorney
On the nose, raspberry, strawberry, violet, candied fruit, spices, a touch of undergrowth and animal notes. On the palate, more red fruit and violet, blackberry, blackcurrant, and cherry. A very fine, gourmet, complex wine, endowed with finesse and great aromatic concentration. Solid, well-structured tannins. This robust wine for laying down, which can be left for some time before drinking and will age magnificently, comes from vines around forty years old. The twelve-month aging is done mainly in barrels, a third of which are new oak. The Roncerets climate consists of very stony clay-limestone soil. This wine has excellent aging potential. It is aged for one year in barrels and vinified without the addition of sulfites.

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 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.