France

La Bottière White 2022

Jean-Yves Péron

La Bottière, here in magnum format, is a dry white wine made from 100% organic and natural Jacquère grapes. It is vinified by Jean-Yves Péron in Savoie using the Jacquère grape variety and Vin de France.

Vinification

Various plots with mica-schist soils near Albertville, planted with old vines, among other things, produced Jean-Yves Péron's La Bottière cuvée. The grapes are harvested at the end of October and macerated for two weeks using carbonic maceration. Aging is one year in 300-liter barrels.

Tasting

This maceration wine offers a beautiful minerality and round, delicious notes of white fruits. In magnum format, it can be drunk now but will evolve for several more years.

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. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. 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.

Côte Pelée Red 2019

Jean-Yves Péron

This splendid Côte Pelée cuvée, produced in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron, is a red wine classified as a Vin de France. A rare and precious bottle.

Vinification

Côte Pelée is made from century-old Mondeuse vines growing on mica-schist soils in Albertville. Only the finest grapes are selected to make this cuvée. The cap is punched down for two months and the grapes are aged for two years in barrels.

Tasting

A powerful, deep, and robust wine with notes of leather, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, and blackberry. A vintage that you will pair with the finest red meats and regional cuisine.

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, steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. 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 in Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his winemaking and aging experiences.

Vin de Lies White 2021/22 Magnum

Jean-Yves Péron

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 winemaking practice that is little known outside the industry, but which produces a highly regarded wine. It is not usually sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a treat that the winemaker bestows upon us, in magnum format no less.

Vinification

The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita, Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne… After racking the barrels and aging vats from all his terroirs (Savoyard and Italian), Jean-Yves gathers all the lees in a single vat to obtain Vin de lies. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red becomes smoother, sweeter, and the white is less tense, rounder. Jean-Yves Péron has gathered here the lees from all his 2021 whites and some from 2022.

Tasting

“It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron of this Vin de lies. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. Pairings: goes with everything.

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. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. 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.

Dolce et Cabanon Rosé 2023

La Tribu Alonso
Dolce et Cabanon is an organic and natural rosé/red wine from Beaujolais, vinified without additives by Cyril Alonso in Marchampt and classified as a Vin de France. Like all of this winemaker's creations, it is a highly original wine, produced from his Conservatoire des vignes anciennes in the Rhône-Alpes region.

Vinification
Among Cyril Alonso's 140 grape varieties is Muscat Bleu, a cross between Muscat Garnier and dark blue skin. Each year, this grape variety is included in the blend of the Art Brut cuvée, but in 2023 its overabundant production prompted the winemaker to use it separately, as it risked overly influencing the cuvée. Cyril therefore used it as the main grape variety in Dolce et Cabanon, combining it with Gamay Vialla, a fruity and muscatel grape variety with a strong raspberry flavor. To complete the blend, he chose Red Globe, a pink American hybrid with pink juice, also very characteristic of raspberry and strawberry.

Tasting
All this makes Dolce et Cabanon a light red or a dark rosé, as desired, and a pure delicacy. A fruit bomb in the noble sense, an unconditional pleasure. Muscat, raspberry, delectable and refreshing, with exotic notes of guava, it is an aperitif wine to be enjoyed on its own, chilled, or with plump oysters, raw blue fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel), summer tapas or Japanese cuisine.

Learn more about Tribu Alonso
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, a naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of Beaujolais Vert. This two and a half hectare ampelothèque, which existed since 1952, then had 40 grape varieties. It currently contains 140. This unique location gives their particular style to Tribu Alonso wines. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.

A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by intact forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, in the vineyard as well as in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the vinification.

The wines
Complantation cuvées (and for good reason), the wines of Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The fermentation periods are short to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.

Retour des Hirondelles Red 2023

La Tribu Alonso
Retour des Hirondelles is an organic and natural red wine with no added sulfites, 100% Gamay, produced by Cyril Alonso in Marchampt, in the terroirs of Beaujolais Vert. Classified as a Vin de France, its name celebrates the return in 2023 of the swallows that had disappeared in 2015. The forest surrounding the estate is classified as a LPP refuge (bird protection), so the cultural precautions and concern for the environment of the Alonso Tribe have borne fruit.

Vinification
Thirty-one different Gamay varieties grow on a half-hectare plot on granite soils, and this Return of the Swallows contains them all. The grass cover is wild and the vines, aged from four to fifty years, are pruned in goblet form, cultivated using organic farming and agroforestry. The harvest, which is manual, is processed in free-run juice (the grapes give their juice under their own weight), without pressing, and ferments with indigenous yeasts without a starter culture. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation takes place in fiberglass vats. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard or the winery.

Tasting
Made solely from free-run juice, Le Retour des Hirondelles is an organic and natural wine of great clarity, very refreshing, very clear, with a beautiful acidity marked by citrus flavors. There are no phenolic traces and the tannins are very soft. Notes of kirsch cherry, clementine, candied orange peel. This wine will be perfect for an aperitif and to accompany all meals. Charcuterie, cured meats (especially Lyonnaise), lamb, everything suits it, and especially good times with friends.

Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.

A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.

The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.

Désirée Blanc 2007,

La Grapperie
La Désirée, classified as a Vin de France, is a dry white wine made from 100% organic and natural Chenin, cultivated and vinified by Renaud Guettier of the La Grapperie estate in the Coteaux du Loir region (Loire Valley).

Cultivation and Vinification
The Chenin grapes, aged between fifty and one hundred and fifteen years, grow on flint-clay soils on a limestone base at an altitude of 100 m. The grapes are pressed directly, and all the liquids are processed by gravity. The wine is aged for twenty-four months on lees in barrels in cellars dug out of the tuffeau stone.

Tasting and pairings
La Désirée is a wine that lives up to its name: you undress it with your eyes, it seduces with its nose of bitter almond, prolonged in the mouth by tenderly buttery notes, touches of white fruits and nuts, counterbalanced by a very clear acidity. This charming wine needs charming pairings: smoked fish, caviar, fresh or smoked scallops, or even fine oysters.

Learn more about Renaud Guettier and La Grapperie
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.

The estate
Renaud's 60 hectares of vines, on the hillside, are protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are predominantly clay, flint, or sand. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the rest consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay and Grolleau. Some vines are more than a hundred years old.

Methods in the vineyard and in the winery
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 Pineau d'Aunis is 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 then put into barrels with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months, malolactic included, and sometimes up to thirty-six months.

Antenet Rosé, Rosé 2022,

Danis dans la vigne
Antenet rosé is an organic and natural Cahors wine, made by Danis Bessières of Danis dans la vigne. Classified as a Vin de France, it is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Egiodola.

Vinification
The technique used here is saignée rosé, which produces wines with a deep color. The Egiodola grape variety, which makes up half of this Antenet rosé, was created in 1954 at the INRA in Bordeaux by Basque agronomist Marcel Durquety. It produces fairly tannic, floral and intense wines, and makes it possible to obtain excellent rosés.

Tasting
Antenet rosé is atypical: it is not a poolside rosé but a table and gastronomy rosé, in addition to being a good aperitif wine. Its very dark color testifies to this. Rich in substance, it coats the mouth well and emits notes of citrus rather than flowers. It evokes blackcurrant, redcurrant, grapefruit pulp and orange peel. Rich and quite alcoholic, with great acidity. Pairs well with many dishes, not just summer salads.

Learn more about Danis dans la vigne
Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1980s.

Organic and natural since 1983
Danis respects the principles established in the vineyard and winery by his grandfather and then his father: making wines without additives, organic and natural, from local grape varieties while respecting the environment. It was in 1983 that his grandfather obtained the Lemaire-Boucher organic label, followed by Nature & Progrès and then the AB and Eurofeuille organic labels. Danis Bessières continues in this vein.

Malbec, but not only
Malbec reigns supreme in the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot, and recently created grape varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Colombard as single-varietals. These experiments allow him to moderate the density and opacity of the main grape variety.

P'tit Grobis Blanc 2022,

Nicolas Chemarin
P’tit Grobis blanc is a traditional 100% Chardonnay white wine made by Nicolas Chemarin on his Beaujolais terroir, without additives or added sulfites.

Vinification
Vinified entirely from Chardonnay on granite soils, Nicolas Chemarin's P’tit Grobis blanc is harvested by hand and goes through direct pressing. The operation is followed by settling, which does not eliminate all the fine lees, hence a slightly cloudy color.

White flowers and acidity
The sensations offered by this P’tit Grobis white are complex: on the nose as well as in the mouth, a lactic, buttery, yeasty note. The fresh acidity is accompanied by flint, white flowers and a youthful expressiveness. The minerality of this wine is remarkable. A little age will reveal white fruits, a slight fat and sweet notes. It will pair with many dishes; it is also one of the rare wines that we can recommend with vegetarian cuisine. Try it also with pasta, whatever the recipe, but a seafood base will be the best (pasta with clams, bottarga, smoked fish, etc.). One last tip: P’tit Grobis white will be perfect with a Camembert.

Learn more about Nicolas Chemarin
Nicknamed “P’tit Grobis” as a resident of Marchampt (Beaujolais), Nicolas Chemarin is the fourth generation of winemakers on his family estate in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on stony land where he biodynamically chisels natural wines of surprising depth and sincerity.

From the granite
In 2005, Nicolas took over two hectares of his father’s vines and, in 2006, produced his first vintages. In 2008, he acquired other vines. His terroir, very steep, consists of poor, rocky soils on gray granite rock. The vines, averaging eighty years old, rest through very thin soil on the bedrock where their roots plunge deep. The grape varieties, Gamay and Chardonnay, are classically Beaujolais. Nicolas also cultivates two other terroirs in the Régnié appellation: Les Bullats and La Haute Ronze. While organic certification is impossible on such steep soil, Nicolas "follows the moon" and cares for his terroir as a traditional winemaker with respect for nature.

Vinification
Nicolas Chemarin's wines are macerated for a long time (18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control. A third of the aging takes place in temperature-controlled concrete vats and the rest in barrels of four to ten wines. Nicolas Chemarin is already well-known in the natural world for his sweet and fruity vintages, alongside more complex vintages with mineral, aromatic and spicy notes.

Sans Pression White Sparkling 2022,

Domaine Bois Moisset
Sans Pression is a little gem of a natural sparkling wine that ticks all the right boxes. Entirely organic and natural, classified as a Vin de France, it is made in Gaillac by the Bois-Moisset estate from 80% Mauzac, with Sauvignon Blanc and Loin-de-l'Oeil making up the remaining 20%.

A Complete Natural Sparkling Wine
No pressure, no constraints, no stress, but always vinified to perfection and with precision. This is the lesson that Bois-Moisset offers us through this very successful natural sparkling white. The color is cloudy with straw nuances. On the palate, a touch of yeast and vanilla adds to its lightness, with notes of white fruits (apple, pear, white peach), heated grass, and red fruits in palatal notes (strawberry, raspberry). The wine is a touch cider-like, it is a pure delight.

Pairings and occasions
Sans pression is an aromatic and tasty sparkling white wine, a sparkling pleasure that will be suitable for festive occasions but which also deserves to be savored without occasion, pretext or excuse. For example with smoked fish, canned seafood, grilled poultry, fish or white meats. It’s the perfect companion for luxury (or more modest) tapas.

Learn more about the Bois-Moisset estate
In the heart of France’s oldest vineyard—Gaillac, in the Tarn region—Sylvie Ledran, Philippe Maffre, and their son Hippolyte oversee their Bois-Moisset estate, a wine-growing property associated with mixed crop-livestock farming, all organic. Gaillac is famous for its many ancient native 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 bed and breakfast accommodation is available during the summer months. 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’s are particularly tasty.

Cuvée Yard Melon de Bourgogne (exclusive cuvée) White 2021

De Vini
This Yard-Melon de Bourgogne is an exclusive, organic, and natural cuvée, created by Christophe Bosque (De Vini) for Culinaries/Yard. It comes from the terroir of the Loire estuary, in Gorges (Loire-Atlantique), in the heart of Nantes, the kingdom of Muscadet, which the De Vini estate worthily represents without having the appellation.

Vinification
Classified as Vin de France, this 100% Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet) grown on gabbro soils is vinified by direct pressing and aged in buried vats in the Nantes style.

Tasting
A pure, fresh and joyful expression of Melon de Bourgogne, this Yard cuvée does not detract from its terroir. The notes diffuse with clarity: lemon, melon, white flowers, with a delicious minerality typical of this Nantes region. A wine for pleasure that will love to accompany oysters, seafood, smoked fish and any seafood.

Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini
De Vini, along with the Vinilibre business, is the multi-faceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his vineyard of some two hectares and fermented in buried vats in the Nantes style - a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural mode.

Gabbro Fondu
After spending years as a merchant, importer, then wine merchant, this former cameraman with a BTS in oenology-viticulture acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, in Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson in 2017. The soils there are made up of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.

Muscadet for the better
Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, particularly in Languedoc, but the winemaker retains a special affection for his vines, which he maintains with passion and attention to the terroir. A touch of humor and a sense of pun can be seen on his labels and in his appellations, but in the bottle, they are serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them.

Magnum Gauthier White 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer

Gauthier is a dry, organic (AB label), biodynamic, and natural macerated white wine (orange wine) from Jean-Marc Dreyer, vinified in Alsace from all the grape varieties cultivated by the winemaker and without the addition of sulfites. Always packaged in magnums, it is simultaneously a rarity, a challenge, a curiosity, and a precious bottle to savor. Gauthier is the first name of a pilgrim on the Way of Saint James who spent some time with Jean-Marc Dreyer and took part in the work in the cellar. Having noticed that the blend of the fin de cuvée was excellent to drink, he suggested to Jean-Marc that he make a special cuvée: "It tastes so good, it would be a shame not to do it!" It tastes incredibly good, even, notes the winemaker.

Vinification

If you are familiar with Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range - a series of maceration vintages based on six Alsatian white grape varieties - you will find in Gauthier the synthesis and summary of this range. This wine is in fact the result of the blending of the fin de cuvée of each Origin reference. Once blended, the fin de cuvée are kept for two to three months in barrels to unify the flavors. No added sulfites, no additives, no filtration, indigenous yeasts.

Tasting

This atypical production makes Gauthier a full-bodied, characterful vintage, with a distinct touch of controlled oxidation. Gauthier, of course, contains no more sulfites or additives than the vintages it is made from. That is, zero. It is the synthesis of the Jean-Marc Dreyer estate, and that in itself is a tasting note: refer to each of the other vintages in the Origin range on this site to piece together the puzzle, or, better yet, drink it. With everything that goes with macerated Alsace whites, whether cheeses, local dishes, Lacaune charcuterie or Lyon.

Riesling Origin Blanc 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer
Jean-Marc Dreyer's Riesling Origin is an organic (AB label), biodynamic, and natural dry white wine from Alsace, macerated (orange wine), with no added sulfites. Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range consists of single-varietal cuvées made from six Alsatian grape varieties (Sylvaner, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Muscat), macerated on the skins with a touch of controlled oxidation. Discovering each Origin is always a revelation.

Vinification
Riesling, the king of Alsace's white grape varieties, forms the basis of this organic and natural wine. Its liveliness, distinction, deep sapidity, and characteristic mineral notes are evident in this hand-harvested wine macerated for seven days in whole bunches. After pressing and fermentation, the wine is aged for ten to eleven months in the Alsatian style, in foudres and demi-muids, without topping up. Biodynamic method, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, unfiltered, unclarified, no sulfites added in the vineyard or cellar.

Tasting
Balanced acidity, elegance, complexity, fruitiness, power, plenty of structure and depth: Jean-Marc Dreyer's Riesling Origin is what we call a wine of meditation. Whole-bunch maceration exposes Riesling in a completely new light: the petrol notes recede into the background, waiting until the finish to emerge, and the wine expresses a structured verticality balanced by a gentle roundness. Pineapple and grapefruit on a very mineral background, but it's the soil you sense, not the diesel can. Taste pairings? Don't bother looking; it goes with everything. Try grilled fish, matelotes, seafood and shellfish, roasted or stewed white meats, pata negra ham, aged cheeses.

Learn more about Jean-Marc Dreyer
Jean-Marc Dreyer, a 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 biodynamic farming. In 2009, upon returning from a pilgrimage to Compostela, he decided to never again add sulfur to any wine. Having made this decision, he affirmed his style around skin maceration, accentuated and 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 pressing
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.

Tri-Aux White 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer

Tri-Aux is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine from Alsace (AB label) produced by Jean-Marc Dreyer without added sulfites. Its name is a play on words based on its composition: three successive vintages of the Auxerrois grape variety.

Vinification

Auxerrois or Pinot Auxerrois is a typically Alsatian white grape variety. For all three vintages, the harvest is vinified using direct pressing, fermented, and then aged in barrels for one to three years. The resulting wines are blended to create this cuvée. Biodynamic viticulture method, fermentation by indigenous yeasts, unfiltered, unclarified, no sulfites added in the vineyard or in the cellar.

Tasting

Tri-Aux is a lovely, seductive and fresh wine, aromatic and floral, delicious and dry at the same time. It offers spicy notes (cinnamon, dried fruits), a round and complex, saline body, and a finish of white fruits. Lots of energy and character. For all occasions, from the most relaxed to the most distinguished. Offer it roasted white meats, pata negra ham and other high-end cured meats. It will also be very comfortable with shellfish and oysters.

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, 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 to never again add sulfur to any wine. Having made this decision, he asserted his style around skin-to-skin maceration, accentuated and chiseled, bringing out the soul of the 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 feature 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.

Cailloux Rouge 2022

Patrick Bouju
Cailloux is an organic and natural red wine from Patrick Bouju, with no added sulfites and sourced from the Auvergne terroir. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a wine extremely representative of its terroir and a fine example of the winemaker's refined expertise. The magnum format amplifies its natural character and further accentuates its depth.

Vinification
Cailloux comes from Patrick Bouju's old Pinot Noir vines located in Madargue, near Riom, in Limagne. The terroir is basaltic, clay-limestone, marl-limestone, and sandy. The grapes macerate in whole bunches, and during fermentation, 1% of the estate's Chardonnay press juice is added. The wine is aged for a year in sandstone amphorae and barrels.

Tasting
Cailloux lives up to its name: wild, smoky, long, and stony, with great aromatic persistence. Marked by intensely mineral notes: stone, metal. The fruit is present and juicy. The overall impression is dense and concentrated; the wine can be drunk now but will still have a few years to drink. Serving temperature: 14-16 °C. Open twenty minutes before tasting or decant. You can pair it with charcuterie, salted meats, beef and all kinds of local cuisine.

Learn more about Patrick Bouju and the La Bohème estate
Near Billom, the Auvergne Tuscany, once covered with vines, is the privileged domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a strain old grape variety. It is there, on these volcanic soils, that Patrick Bouju works, mainly with old vines.

Viticulture and trade
Patrick breathes new life into the often abandoned terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme and its indigenous grape varieties. Under the La Bohème estate, he operates as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. His exclusive Culinaries partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal…

A winemaker who lends a helping hand
The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes a lot to Patrick. The fact that he likes to lend a hand to his winemaker friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a role model, a leader. Its noble, chiseled, distinguished, never trivial wines are immediately recognizable in the glass.

Gentian Spirits

Liqueurs Granier

Granier Gentian is an organic and artisanal liqueur, sourced locally and produced by the Granier brothers near Annecy, in Haute-Savoie. It is part of a long tradition of wild gentian liqueur from the French mountains (Massif Central and the Alps), whose harvest is subject to rigorous controls to ensure the plant regenerates normally.

The Plant

Yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) is a tall mountain plant whose root, extracted by specialized gatherers, the "gentianaires," is used in herbalism and liqueur making. Difficult to extract, it was nicknamed "the poor man's quinquina" because of its beneficial and digestive bitter ingredients. The gentian used for this liqueur comes from a sustainable development sector, controlled by the Gentiana Lutea association, which manages the exploitation of this wild plant.

Production

The gentian root is infused 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

This gentian has everything going for it, starting with its bitterness. This is indeed the desired flavor in this liqueur, and the Granier brothers know how to let it express itself with frankness and simplicity in order to preserve the strong identity of this noble plant. A few drops on a sugar cube, or a small glass as an aperitif, or as a digestif (with or without ice). Sovereign in case of stomach problems, tones the liver. Despite its bitterness, it can be paired with various dishes, especially as an aperitif. Try it with a ham and butter sandwich! It goes well with charcuterie, cured meats, dry sausages for example. Idea: pour a few drops into your coffee! Or in the batter of a chocolate cake.

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 The Morning Dew Spirits

Hootch

Entirely organic (Demeter, AB, and Eurofeuille labels), biodynamic, and artisanal, The Morning Dew can challenge your Armagnac experience with its transparency. It is indeed a young Armagnac, which owes its paleness to four years of aging in oak barrels. Classified VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale). Developed by Maurice de Mandelaëre (Domaine de Saoubis), the only biodynamic Armagnac producer, it is distributed by Hootch and has an alcohol content of 44%.

Development

The Morning Dew is made from 100% Baco grapes grown biodynamically in Bas-Armagnac and aged in 200-liter microbarrels. It is neither reduced nor filtered, and is free of coloring. No fertilizers or pesticides are used in the vineyards, and no additives are used in the cellar. Cuvée limited to 390 bottles.

Tasting

It's a real treat, a delicacy. Dried fruits, honey, and spices, an irresistible taste and floral notes. The silky, round palate reveals fruit, vanilla, and caramel. In its prime, it is suitable for all occasions: digestif, anytime tasting, dessert, or mixology. With this, dare to try a Iberian bellota ham, that's good, we have some. Or a ham from porc noir de Bigorre, a pastry or a dessert with Agen prunes.

Learn more about Hootch

Hootch is not a distillery but a distillery discoverer: created by two childhood friends, Martin and Thomas, it is dedicated to organic and artisanal French spirits, especially 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 follows 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 prune ice cream (even if we love those too)! Armagnac is complex, deep, multidimensional, the pure fruit of its terroir, and Hootch gives you a wonderful opportunity to discover it.

Morey Saint Denis les Champs de la Vigne Rouge 2017

Frédéric Cossard
This magnificent organic and natural magnum 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" vineyard.

Vinification
The vines grow on a clay-limestone plot and are around sixty years old. They are made from Pinot Fin grapes, an ancient strain of Pinot Noir that is increasingly rare in Burgundy. The harvest macerates in whole bunches and the wine is aged in barrels for at least a year.

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 offers opulent fruit and remarkable minerality. Great elegance and finesse, silky and satiny with a lovely earthy and mineral nuance. The magnum format accentuates its velvety texture and depth. It will be a pleasure to pair it with duck breast, grilled meats, beef, charcuterie and cured meats.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate
Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate give the floor in organic and natural fashion 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, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.

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, 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.

Zapoï Rouge 2020

Les En Hauts
Rather gurgling but with substance, silky and velvety, dry and tangy, this delicious and indulgent wine offers a rather animal nose with notes of hay. On the palate, cherry, a lovely length, and a nice acidity. Zapoï, a cuvée from the Les En-Hauts project, is the result of the joint effort of winemakers Damien Coquelet and Frédéric Cossard. It comes from fifty-year-old Gamay vines growing in Beaujolais. It is the result of whole-bunch semicarbonic maceration, and is aged for ten months in concrete eggs.

The word "Zapoï" makes you think of Groland, obviously, but do you know the origin of the term? Zapoï is a Russian practice consisting of a binge lasting several days, the result of prolonged alcohol consumption. A proper zapoï should lead to a blackout (you don't remember anything), and regular awakenings where you get drunk again to avoid a hangover. In some cases, you wake up far from home in the snow. This scourge on life expectancy, fortunately, has only a very distant logical connection with the wine we are concerned with here. Let's just say that, presumably, the sound of the name appealed to the two winemakers.

Find out more
Les En-Hauts is not strictly speaking a wine estate but a project of vintages produced in partnership between Damien Coquelet and Frédéric Cossard. These two great figures of Burgundy viticulture—yes, Beaujolais is in Burgundy—had every reason to join forces to create colorful and flavorful vintages together.

Frédéric Cossard is a biodynamic and natural star of Burgundy winemaking, who gives voice to Burgundy's terroirs and wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. His vintages are pure and elegant without artifice and are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. His practice is not limited to Burgundy, as some vintages are made from grapes purchased in other regions. His 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.

Damien Coquelet, for his part, is the worthy successor of the great organic winegrowers to whom we owe the advent of nature in the Beaujolais region: he is the son-in-law of Georges Descombes and Jean Foillard was his mentor, continuators of the pioneering work of Jules Chauvet and Marcel Lapierre. Owning nine hectares in Morgon on granite-sandy soils, he cultivates two and a half hectares plus a few leased vines: in all, four hectares on the legendary Côte du Py. A specialist in Morgons that Morgonnent and Chiroubles that Chiroublent, he embodies the true nature of Beaujolais.

Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot Blanc 2020

Frédéric Cossard
The nose of this magnificent Chassagne-Montrachet "Abbaye de Morgeot" premier cru opens beautifully with citrus notes and a complex bouquet. The palate, well-rounded, ample, and balanced, offers a profusion of white fruits, white flowers, and honey, with a siliceous touch that is representative of the exceptional minerality of the plot. The taste sensation is fresh and mineral, full-bodied, rich, and nuanced. This premier cru cuvée, entirely organic and natural, comes from the Abbaye de Morgeot plot, located at the foot of the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation, with high-quality clay-limestone soils. The clay present in this terroir gives richness, the limestone freshness. It is an anthology of Burgundy white wines.

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

Magnum Alburostre White 2022

De Vini

Alburostre is an organic, biodynamic, and natural white wine made by Christophe Bosque (De Vini) in the Nantes region from the Folle-Blanche grape variety. It comes from vines growing in Gorges (Loire-Atlantique), on the winemaker's estate, on gabbro soils. Classified as a Vin de France. Folle-Blanche or Gros-Plant is a typical grape variety of the Nantes region, where it has been known since the 16th century and thrives on gabbro soils. Very suitable for distillation, it is also a grape variety used in Armagnac and Cognac. It typically produces low-alcohol, pale-colored wines: Alburostre is all of these things.

Vinification

The organic folle-blanches harvested for Alburostre are pressed directly, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and then the wine is aged for nine months on lees in stoneware jars. No fining, sulfiting, or filtration.

Tasting

Alburostre means "white-beak" in old French. Aside from the paleness of its color—typical of folle-blanche—there is nothing inexperienced about it. It is a very beautiful, easy-drinking white wine (10 degrees alcohol), supple, pleasant, chiseled, and pure. A beautiful yeasty fermentation note rises above its simple description to envelop the palate and further accentuate the wine's length. Very gourmet: reserve it for the finest smoked salmon, seafood, and even caviar. The winemaker recommends salmon tartare with coriander, pollack steak with beurre blanc, or steamed barnacles.

Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini

De Vini, along with the Vinilibre winery, is the multifaceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his vineyard of some two hectares and fermented in buried vats in the Nantes style - a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural mode.

Gabbro Fondu

After spending years as a merchant, importer, then wine merchant, this former cameraman with a BTS in oenology-viticulture acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, in Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson in 2017. The soils there are made up of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.

Muscadet for the better

Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, particularly in Languedoc, but the winemaker retains a special affection for his vines, which he maintains with passion and attention to the terroir. A touch of humor and a sense of pun can be seen on his labels and in his appellations, but in the bottle, they are serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them.