France

Divin Poison White 2021

De Vini

Divin Poison is a dry, organic, biodynamic, and natural white wine made by Christophe Bosque of Domaine De Vini from Melon de Bourgogne grapes grown in the Nantes region. Classified as a Vin de France and harvested from gabbro soils characteristic of the area, it has all the qualities of a (very good) Muscadet, except for the appellation.

Super B Rouge 2020,

Patrick Bouju
Its aromas of red berries and hazelnut bring a sensation of freshness to the palate and make it a very pleasant thirst-quenching wine. Super B is a beautiful blend of Beaujolais Gamays and Brouilly Gamays grown on granite and bluestone soils. Aging is done partly in vats, the rest in barrels. This wine can age for seven years.

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Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises eastward to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered in vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep, and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone, and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves the indigenous grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and simultaneously works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes much to Patrick. The fact that he enjoys lending a helping hand to his winegrowing friends from France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick has found that his own do very well without them. He has also found that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, the balance is achieved by itself, whatever the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Basse-Auvergne and its volcanic soils.

Farmhouse Cider 2017,

Florian Bourrienne

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

Obviously more evolved than the 2018, this 2017 vintage has a more sustained acidity in an overall still very marked by sweetness. Round, full-bodied, slightly astringent, it is approaching adulthood and you can drink it now or keep it for three to five years. The apple flavor is enhanced with a remarkable freshness. A sunny cider that puts you in a good mood.

Brutal is Dead, Long Live Brutal! Red 2019,

La Sorga
Antony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winemaker, in other words, a wine merchant whose scope extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a viticultural technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he founded La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path filled with love at first sight, and each of these loves is a vineyard. The result is a stunning mosaic of natural, lively and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can include such a variety of grape varieties on their menu: the whole of southern France is there with muscats, grenaches, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and tutti quanti.
This wine is a blend of three Languedoc terroirs: Vieussan and Cabrerolles in Hérault, both with schist soils, and Lagrasse, clay-limestone, in Aude. The grape varieties are 60% Cinsault (65-year-old vines), 35% Grenache (45-year-old vines), and 5% Muscat of Alexandria (40-year-old vines). Vinification is carried out using separate grape varieties: 60 days in whole bunches and in near-infusion for the Cinsaults, a 53-day soak (in direct-press must) for the Grenaches, and a maceration for the Muscats with manual destemming. The blend is made before winter for aging for nine months in vats. The nose is superb, floral, strawberry, and cherry... and the palate is a delight, drinkability is at its peak. Fine and easy-drinking but never overly simplistic. Beautiful balance.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Kuku Yodel Blanc 2019

La Sorga
Antony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winegrower, in other words, a wine merchant whose area of ​​activity extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a wine technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he created La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path filled with favorites, and each of these favorites is a vineyard. The result is a dizzying mosaic of natural, lively, and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can list such a variety of grape varieties on their list: the whole of southern France is there with muscats, grenaches, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and all the rest.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
This dry white wine comes from Marseillan (Hérault), a wine-growing commune on the Languedoc coast made famous by Noilly-Prat and the picpoul grape variety. Here, it is a question of other varieties, growing on clay-limestone soil: eighty percent terret bourret (eight-year-old vines), fifteen percent muscat d’Alexandrie (forty-year-old vines) and five percent grenache gris (twenty-year-old vines). The Terret Bourret is directly pressed, the Muscat is manually destemmed and then macerated in vats for thirty days, and the Grenache macerates for fifteen days in the Terret Bourret must. The blend of the three grape varieties is followed by an eight-month aging in vats on lees. The nose evokes white peach, citron, and sweet spices. The palate, full of freshness, reveals itself to be extremely mineral, strongly marked by the Terret Bourret (a sand wine grape variety) with an electric finish. An original and seductive wine that will lend itself to all your desires. It will keep for around ten years.

Mus'cat Blanc 2019, Domaine de l'Octavin
Made from muscats from the Pyrénées-Orientales (50% Muscat à petits grains, 50% Muscat d'Alexandrie) grown biodynamically on clay-limestone soils, this wine is full of fruit and freshness. The grapes macerate for two weeks in whole bunches to promote the extraction of their lovely aromas. It will lend itself to all pairings, including desserts (not too sweet, please).
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Festejar Rosé Pétillant 2018, Domaine La Boheme
"To celebrate" is the meaning of festejar in Occitan: a clear indication of the use of this wine. This semi-dry natural sparkling wine is available in rosé and white. The rosé version (dark rosé, almost a red) is based on Beaujolais Gamay. Its scope is dizzying, because this thirst-quenching wine is also a complex vintage, superimposing very fine bubbles, delicious freshness, a slight sweetness, a measured acidity and a structuring bitterness. Perfect for an aperitif with friends, perfect for the table, perfect for thirst: an all-terrain vehicle for the greatest joy of all.
Natural wine with no added sulfites

Esprit Attila Red 2016

La Sorga

This blend is composed of 60% Syrah (from thirty-five-year-old vines), with the remainder consisting of Carignan, Grenache, Merlot, and Alicante Bouschet. The grapes macerate in whole bunches for ninety days in a near-infusion and are aged in concrete vats and amphorae for one year. Its aromas of violet and red fruits will pair well with red meats, especially lamb. Aging potential: twenty years.

Pairs with: Red Meats, Roasted Meats, Grilled Meats

Pet Nat, Sparkling Rosé 2022

Domaine Bélicard

Here's a sparkling wine that effervesces with authenticity and immediate pleasure. With this Rosé Pet Nat 2022, Domaine Bélicard, a winemaker committed to organic farming in Beaujolais, captures the summer spirit in a bottle. This 100% Gamay natural sparkling wine combines freshness, fruit, and lightness, in a joyful style, without artifice or additives.

A natural, frank, and free sparkling rosé

The Gamay here is harvested in whole bunches, then subjected to short maceration to extract just enough color and substance. Fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, then continues in the bottle, according to the ancestral method principle. No added sulfites, no dosage, and no selected yeasts: it's a living, raw wine, all in spontaneity. It is aged for about two years before release, giving it balance and stability.

A tonic and fruity profile

Pale pink color, slightly hazy, fine and natural mousse, and on the nose, notes of small red berries, pomegranate, and a delicate floral touch. On the palate, the bubbles are soft, the body light, with a tangy and refreshing finish that makes you want more. The whole is digestible, thirst-quenching, and incredibly delicious.

To drink without ceremony

Serve it chilled (10–12 °C), without decanting, as an aperitif or to accompany simple summer cuisine: salads, fresh cheeses, light grilled dishes... This wine is best drunk young, but its liveliness also allows it to age gracefully for 5 to 10 years. A pet' nat' that makes your evenings sparkle.

Orange White 2022,

Domaine Einhart

A complex and structured orange wine, an ode to Gewurztraminer

The Orange 2022, produced by Domaine Einhart, is a captivating cuvée that explores the full richness of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. This orange wine, obtained through a week of destemmed maceration, fully expresses the aromatic potential and tannic structure of the grape variety. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for a month in stainless steel vats, this wine reveals a perfect balance between power, freshness, and minerality.

A generous and captivating tasting

From the first nose, the Orange 2022 seduces with its complexity. Aromas of dried apricot, fig, and mandarin intertwine with exotic touches of pineapple and passion fruit. On the palate, the attack is full and structured, with a slightly tannic texture that adds depth. The basalt minerality unfolds elegantly, supported by a vibrant freshness. The finish is long and persistent, marked by notes of honey and orange blossom, offering a unique and intense sensory experience.

An exceptional gastronomic wine

L’Orange 2022 is ideal for accompanying bold and refined dishes. It pairs perfectly with game birds, roasted white meats, or root vegetables such as celeriac and cabbage. Its powerful aromas also allow it to enhance mature cheeses or dishes with mild spices. Served between 8 and 10°C after decanting, this wine will reveal all its nuances and richness.

With an aging potential of 5 years, this vintage will be able to evolve in the bottle, gaining even more complexity and finesse.

1er Jus Red 2023

Fond Cyprès

Fond Cyprès's 1er Jus 2023 is a bold and original expression of the Languedoc-Roussillon terroir. This red wine, made from a blend of Carignan and Grenache Noir, offers a unique and fluid taste experience, halfway between a red wine and a rosé. With a moderate alcohol content of 12.5°, it stands out for its freshness and lightness, perfect for convivial moments.

Terroir and Vinification

The Carignan and Grenache Noir vines grow on clay-limestone soils typical of the region, giving this wine a subtle minerality and a beautiful structure. The vinification is carried out according to a unique method: the whole bunches of Carignan are immersed in a saignée of Grenache in full fermentation, with pressing two days later. This process begins as a rosé vinification and ends in red, giving the 1er Jus Domaine its unique character and light color.

Aged for 6 months in stainless steel vats, this wine is made with indigenous yeasts, guaranteeing a pure expression of the fruit and terroir. The minimal presence of sulfur and light filtration ensure a respectful and natural approach to the wine.

Tasting and Food Pairing

On the nose, the 1er Jus 2023 seduces with fresh and vibrant raspberry aromas. On the palate, it reveals a fluid, almost airy texture, with a fruity and elegant finish. It pairs ideally with a beautiful charcuterie board or as a convivial aperitif, best served chilled between 12 and 14 degrees for an optimal experience. This natural wine can be kept for up to five years, but it also tastes great young.

Respect for the environment

Certified organic (Eurofeuille label), this wine respects sustainable and ecological viticultural practices. Fond Cyprès is committed to producing natural wines without synthetic chemicals, allowing the richness of the terroir and the authenticity of the grape varieties to fully express themselves.

La barrique du chat botté Red 2017

Lindenlaub

Bright, savory, fresh, and deep, this wine goes down fast. This Cuvée du Chat is a still red wine made from Alsace Pinot Noir, cultivated and vinified by Christophe Lindenlaub. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Sempel and Thomen plots, facing south on the Stierkopf terroir. These plots contain the oldest Pinot Noir vines on the Lindenlaub estate. The clay-limestone soil on a sandstone substrate refines and accentuates the wine's clarity, giving it a straightforward personality and plenty of character. The grapes spend two weeks in maceration tanks to extract their color, then age in stainless steel tanks. This vintage comes from the Lindenlaub estate via the Parisian-Burgundian wine merchant Le Chat botté & Co, which selects beautiful bottles each year for its “La Barrique du Chat botté” series, illustrated with a collector’s label.

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Christophe Lindenlaub succeeds his father Jacques at the head of their twelve-hectare wine estate, cultivated by their family for almost three centuries. Viticulture there dates back two centuries, the activity previously being mixed. The Lindenlaub estate is located in the village of Dorlisheim, near Molsheim and Mutzig, on splendid clay-limestone terroirs on sandstone bedrock. All the classic Alsatian grape varieties are cultivated, and all types of Alsace wines are produced, from still red or white wines to oxidative wines, pet' nat', sweet late harvest wines, crémant, and maceration wines. Christophe's commitment to making wines as close to nature as possible, with complete respect for the terroir, gradually led him to convert the estate—certified organic since 2012—to natural viticulture and vinification. A testament to this goal is the Ensö range, six natural single-varietal cuvées, under the sign of the Chinese ink circle specific to Zen mysticism. This series, Christophe explains, was born from a quest for personal fulfillment and the desire to impart an extra touch of soul to his wines.

Cyprès de Toi Rosé 2022

Fond Cyprès
If you serve this wine very chilled on a very hot day, you'll be thanked, because that's its purpose. Lively, tangy yet velvety, full of character, it can be drunk on any occasion and at any time of day. Cyprès de Toi Rosé offers a lovely color of soft salmon pink and wild strawberry, but make no mistake: it won't sing you a lullaby. Powerful and assertive, perfectly dry, beautifully balanced between fruit and acidity, it hasn't forgotten its Malbec of origin, whose grapes were purchased from a certified organic winemaker. Malbec, in fact, benefits from rosé vinification, as it is one of the varieties that produces very vinous rosés with substance. The grapes undergo direct pressing and traditional vinification, using indigenous yeasts and without additives. Settling is done in the cold and fermentation, as well as aging, are carried out in stainless steel vats. A light filtration is done before bottling.

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This Corbières estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already had a clear objective: "to produce southern wines that reflect us, wines with character attached to our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the heart of the old Corbières massif, they took over an old estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache vines, which had not seen any fertilizer or pesticides for years: these clean and vibrant soils were 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 assessed 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.

Super B Rouge 2019,

Patrick Bouju
B is for Beaujolais, super as in super-good. A delicious red wine from Patrick Bouju, who for the occasion is moving away from the Auvergne Gamay to Gamays planted further east. Super B is indeed a very fine blend of Beaujolais Gamays and Brouilly Gamays (lieu-dit Pisse-Vieille) grown on granite and bluestone soils. Its aromas of red berries and hazelnut bring a sensation of freshness to the palate and make it a very pleasant thirst-quenching wine. Super B has a certain ability to go down at full speed; it's a beautiful gurgling wine. Aging is done partly in vats, the rest in barrels. Maceration for fifteen days and fermentation with indigenous yeasts. No clarification, no filtration, no added sulfites. This wine can age for seven years.

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Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises towards the east to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered with vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves native grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and simultaneously works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes much to Patrick. The fact that he enjoys lending a helping hand to his winegrower friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a role model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick has noticed that his wines do very well without them. He also found that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, balance occurs naturally, regardless of the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Lower Auvergne and its volcanic soils.

Kuku Yodel White 2018

La Sorga

A dry white wine, Kuku Yodel reveals great finesse, freshness, and fruit on the nose. On the palate, the attack reminds some of an unfiltered white beer, others of a tropical lemonade. This wine is pleasant, fruity, floral, refreshing, and very fragrant. It evokes fruits such as peach, apricot, mandarin, lemon, lychee, passion fruit, and rhubarb, with a milky, yeasty finish, with the rich aroma of a summer meadow. It is made from Muscat of Alexandria, either as a single varietal or with a small proportion of Terret Bourret and Grenache Gris depending on the vintage. Kuku Yodel is a macerated white wine made from Muscat of Alexandria vines growing on the schist and clay-limestone soils of the high slopes of Hérault. The destemmed grapes macerate for forty-five days in vats, then the wine is aged for one year. Before bottling, it is neither filtered nor clarified, and no sulfites are added during the vinification process. Kuku Yodel should be drunk very chilled and can be kept for around ten years.

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Anthony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winemaker, in other words a wine merchant whose area of activity extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a wine technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he created La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path filled with favorites, and each of these favorites is a vineyard. The result is a dizzying mosaic of natural, lively, and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can include such a variety of grape varieties: the entire south of France is represented, with muscats, grenaches, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l'el, and tutti quanti.

Mus'cat Blanc 2021,

Domaine de l'Octavin
A white wine to delight in: this Mus'cat is so lovely, both on the nose and on the palate! Muscat of Alexandria harvested in Languedoc, crafted in the Jura style, is something else. Full of fruit and freshness, Mus’cat offers fruity notes that languidly extend across the entire palette of yellow and tropical fruits: peach, apricot, citrus, mango, pineapple… As its name suggests, Mus’cat is vinified from muscats from the Pyrénées-Orientales (50% muscat à petits grains, 50% muscat d’Alexandrie from Vincent Lafage, sixty-six-year-old vines growing in Saint-Jean-Lasseille) cultivated biodynamically on clay-limestone soils, macerated for ten days in whole bunches to promote the extraction of their lovely aromas. Bottled in May 2022, Mus’cat will lend itself to all pairings, including desserts (but not too sweet, please).

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“You don’t need anything,” says Alice Bouvot, winemaker at Domaine de l’Octavin, “just a grape that’s happy in its skin.” Everything is said in favor of natural wine; it’s a perfect description. Created in 2005, Domaine d’Alice is located in Arbois, in this wine-growing Jura region, often described as the most organic vineyard in France. The habit of making – among other things – oxidative wines is a good preparation for natural wine, this type of wine does not allow any chemical additives and especially no sulfites. It’s a secret of this magnificent region. Originally spread over two hectares, the estate, managed entirely biodynamically (Demeter) since 2010, has expanded through the gradual acquisition of plots and now covers seven hectares.
An accomplished musician and passionate music lover, Alice intends to apply her musical sensitivity to the wines she makes. She draws a parallel between the technical perfection of conventional wines, which risks excluding feeling, while "a musician who does not know music theory and plays with his guts creates emotion." For her, living wine is like this: instinctive, improvised, emotional. Introduced to natural wine by Stéphane Planche, sommelier at chef Jean-Paul Jeunet in Arbois, she will faithfully follow this path. The sometimes whimsical titles of her vintages are inspired sometimes by musical art (Dorabella, Zerline), sometimes by the numerous plots of land that make up her vineyard (En Curon, Les Corvées, En Poussot, etc.), and do not disdain a pun from time to time. Likewise, the labels adorned with happy and salacious little gnomes are a signature of the estate. As for the grape varieties, they are the classics of the Jura - Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot Noir for the reds, and Chardonnay, Savagnin for the whites. Alongside her Arbois wines, Alice has created a business of "on the vine" grapes (Ecocert certified) with her winegrower friends from the region. Natural, committed, joyful and highly drinkable, the wines of Alice Bouvot are all the more coveted as the vintages, produced in plot-by-plot mode, appear, disappear and reappear depending on the vintage and inspiration.

Perry 2019, Belly Wine Experiment

Belly Wine Experiment
This deliciously complex, fresh, and unique perry is one of the jewels of the Belly Wine Experiment winery. The pears come from the Domaine de l'Égrappille in Auvergne, owned by the winery's father. The pears, produced without chemical pesticides or any synthetic additives, are old varieties—Comice and Beurré-hardy—flavorful, fragrant, and sweet, without excessive astringency. The production of this perry requires great care and attention: each pear is carefully cut in half to check for any bumps, bruises, or other defects, and the seeds, which are the source of bitterness, are removed before maceration. This last process takes place with the addition of a little oxidative white wine, which propels the perry into a whole new dimension before aging in bottles. This sumptuous beverage will go very well with crispy and tasty dishes: buckwheat pancakes with grilled bacon, grilled or fried fish, not-too-sweet pastries, and especially King's cake, but it is also a very pleasant experimental drink to discover and share. Perry can also be that.

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Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experiment as a winemaking business. The creative duo has a lot to offer: Claire is the sister of Adrien Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne, and Jura grape varieties, all readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason, and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. Belly Wine Experiment's unique feature is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of its blends, with Catalan Xarello, for example, blending effortlessly with Puy-de-Dôme Gamay. The wines are made using semi-carbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The winery is also known for its high-quality, vinous perries.

L'Enchanteresse Rouge 2019

La Grapperie
La Grapperie, in the Coteaux du Loir appellation, is the name of the estate of Renaud Guettier, who can be described as a master of Chenin, but also of Pineau d'Aunis, 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 harvests, 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 poured into barrels by gravity. Fermentation takes place in barrels, on indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.
The terroir of this aptly named Enchantress is made up of flint clay on limestone. The Pineau d'Aunis, which constitutes the entire cuvée, is harvested at full maturity, sorted, then macerated for four weeks in truncated vats with punching down by foot. Fermentation takes place naturally using indigenous yeasts, without any oenological additives in order to preserve the purity of the grapes and the expression of the vintage and the soil. The wine is aged for between twelve and twenty-four months on lees in demi-muids in cellars dug into the tuffeau. A cuvée of old vines, L'Enchanteresse is a 100% Pineau d'Aunis that has seen many things and has excellent aging potential. A very intense nose of black fruits continues with a beautiful volume on the palate, and the length leaves one thinking.