Fruity

Paoudou Red 2022,

Danis dans la vigne

Paoudou is a 100% Cahors Malbec red wine, organic and natural, produced in Vin de France by Danis Bessières of Danis dans la vigne. It is part of the winemaker's "Esprit du lieu" series of single-plot cuvées.

Vinification

Danis dans la vigne's single-plot cuvées are vinified with a certain neutrality to respect the grape variety (in this case, Malbec), the soil, and the vintage. In this case, the 2022 vintage was hot and the wine comes from the finest plot, a place called Paoudou.

Tasting

Paoudou is a sunny, dense and fruity wine, with substance. It requires decanting to fully express its character. Typically Cahors Malbec: Paoudou is full of presence, energy, with a little austerity. It is a wine for red meats, roasts and stews.

Learn more about Danis dans la vigne

Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, the 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 cellar by his grandfather and then his father: making wines without additives, organic and natural, from the grape varieties of the terroir while respecting the environment. It was in 1983 that his grandfather obtained the organic label Lemaire-Boucher, followed by Nature & Progrès and then the organic labels AB and Eurofeuille. 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.

Syrah Jamais Malade Red 2021,

La Ferme de l'Arbre

That's what they often say about natural wines: the next day, never sick, no hat... Which doesn't prevent you from drinking in moderation, even if it's a magnificent gurgling like this one. The nose is floral, the palate is fresh and light, with a hint of spice on the finish. Jamais Malade is made from Syrah grapes grown on a plot of loess and granite, facing northeast, with hand-harvested grapes. Maceration is semi-carbonic, in wooden and stainless steel vats. Pressing takes place before the end of fermentation, after which the wine is aged in stainless steel vats. Bottling takes place in June.

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La Ferme de l’Arbre is a small four and a half hectare wine estate located on the right bank of the Rhône, on the Ardèche side, in Tournon-sur-Rhône (near Tain-l’Hermitage). Run for twenty-five years by Christian Lericq and Colette Barrier, it has had its current name since 2021, the year it was expanded. It is mainly located on granite soils with a loess plot. Entirely devoted to natural wine, obtained through organic and biodynamic farming, it currently produces Syrah red wines under the Saint-Joseph and Vin de France appellations. The estate also has a small apiary and produces honey. The vines are tended with herbal teas and nettle manure, and the soil is nourished with compost and manure. The wines are harvested entirely by hand, vatted in whole bunches. Vinification takes place at room temperature and the wines are neither filtered nor fined. The wines are authentic Syrahs from the Rhône Valley, simple and delicious, joyful, convivial and fruity.

Gevrey Chambertin les Genevrières Qvevris Red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

Gevrey-Chambertin "Les Genevrières" Qvevris by Frédéric Cossard is an organic and natural red wine produced in Burgundy by Frédéric Cossard and aged in terracotta containers. Made in an illustrious Burgundy appellation, it is made from 100% Pinot Noir vines growing on the plot that gave its name to the cuvée.

Vinification

The Genevrières climate, in AOP Gevrey-Chambertin, is located on clay soil on a limestone base. Vinification begins with two weeks of whole-bunch maceration, followed by gentle pressing to preserve the fruit. A year of aging in terracotta (qvevri) gives additional velvety, sensuality and complexity to a wine that already offered a lot.

Tasting

The profile of a great classic red Burgundy with the freedom and breadth of nature. Black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, peony, red rose, delicately spiced, a touch wild… So many distinguished notes for this “Les Genevrières” 2022 vintage. You will happily pair it with local red meats such as the fine fat Mézenc from Florian Gibaud, or the high-end Spanish meats from the maison Aitana. He will also appreciate the charcuterie, the cured meats and the beef stewed in red wine.

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 the wines of Burgundy (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.

Cuvée Carignan Red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

It's all in the title: this Cuvée C Carignan by Frédéric Cossard is a 100% organic and natural Carignan, vinified in Burgundy by Frédéric Cossard. The Burgundian master here takes on Carignan from the South, expressing its virtues with his usual dexterity. The blend includes a little Mourvèdre.

Vinification

The Cuvée C Carignan vines are planted at the foot of Mont Ventoux. The vinification of organic grapes is entirely natural, using indigenous yeasts, and maceration is done in whole bunches without exaggerating extraction. Aging is done in vats. No sulfites added.

Tasting

Peppery, spicy, black fruits, C Carignan offers notes of undergrowth, violet, and well-melted tannins, it is a gourmet and fresh wine for all occasions, sunny and balanced. Pair it with grilled meats, charcuterie or cured meats. If you are interested in Carignan, you will also find beautiful expressions at the estates Fond Cyprès or Le Temps retrouvé.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give a voice in organic and natural ways to the terroirs and wines of Burgundy and elsewhere, 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 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, 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.

Mensonge à Papa Red 2021

Belly Wine Experiment

Fresh, supple, fruity, light, and easy-drinking, Mensonge à Papa is a delicious wine for aperitifs, sharing, thirst quenching, meals, and good company. It proudly carries the banner of Gamay from two regions: Auvergne (from Châteaugay, near Riom, on calcareous-volcanic soils) and Beaujolais (from Rivolet, on blue granite). It is the result of a blend of equal parts of these two origins of the same grape variety, with a shared family resemblance, but also a marked difference: the Gamay from Auvergne has more acidity. Lie to Dad is therefore, in a way, an ode to Gamay. The grapes are first slowly pressed, then their must is added to whole bunches (of Gamay, surprise!) for a fifteen-day carbonic maceration. The aging takes place for a year in fiberglass vats. No chemical inputs are added during the cultivation and vinification, and in particular no sulfites. Classified as a Vin de France and with an alcohol content of 13.5%, it will be wonderful as an aperitif or with food, or just to have a good time.

To find out more
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 live up to: Claire is the sister of Daniel 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, 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. The uniqueness of Belly Wine Experiment is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of the blends, with Xarel lo from Catalonia, for example, being able to sit alongside Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semicarbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.

Magnum Munjebel MC Red 2013,

Frank Cornelissen

The color is superbly intense, a deep, saturated red. Notes of red rose and wild red berries are very pronounced and powerful. A rich texture, body, and depth, with a rich and aromatic palate supported by fresh acidity. This is an already venerable vintage of this pure Nerello Mascalese, which comes from the Contrada Monte Colla (the meaning of the initials MC), a very steep, terraced plot with magnificent sun and wind exposure, directly opposite Mount Etna. The soil is sandy-clay. The vines, planted in 1946, produce a rich, powerful, and elegant wine. It's a bit like the hermitage of Etna. The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days. No fining, light filtration before bottling.

To find out more
A key figure in natural wine, a universally respected figure in this category of wines, Frank Cornelissen is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his contrasting terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines. The brilliance, the directness and the exquisite fruitiness of his vintages earn him the admiration even of those reluctant to go "natural." They are good introductory wines.
His Sicilian azienda is located in Passopisciaro, in the northern Etna valley. It is, he says, the "Night Coast" of Etna for the great diversity of its wines spread over many locations (contrade) at different altitudes. The climate is continental and harsh, even snowy, in winter, but very warm and sunny from June to September. The altitude gives the wines tension and elegance. The vines coexist with a Mediterranean polyculture: olive trees, almond trees, vegetable gardens... (Frank also produces olive oil). The age of the vines ranges from forty years to over one hundred years. The plots, nineteen in number, on twenty-four hectares in total, are all at altitude, between 600 and 900 meters, on several volcanic flows. They are all vinified separately: Frank decides on the blend based on the quality of the wines from each plot. In general, seven or eight vintages are made in addition to the generic wines (rosé, basic red and white). The soils are made up of different types of basalt, between powder and rock, with perfect drainage that allows for the production of concentrated and fine wines.
Nerello Mascalese dominates the estate's grape varieties. This great traditional red grape variety from the northern valley of Etna is the only grape variety used in the great vintages. Its growing cycle is long, which allows the vine to work the soil and capture its minerality in the fruit. Other grape varieties include: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Cattaratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Saint Joseph Cuvée Madloba Red 2020

Paul Estève

Rhône Valley - Saint-Joseph AOC AOP

The fruit is dense, clean, and precise, the tannins are fine, smooth, and full of freshness, and the minerality is subtle. Even the intensity of a Rhône Syrah reveals that "taste of water," that thirst-quenching fluidity that is the hallmark that Chrystelle Vareille and Paul Estève seek to give to their wines. With its floral and spicy notes, its mineral tension over a full texture and intense sapidity, this wine is reminiscent of Georgian qvevri wines aged in terracotta. Madloba ("thank you" in Georgian), in AOP Saint-Joseph, is a 100% Syrah. The vines, almost forty years old, are planted at an altitude of 350 meters, on a hillside plot with granite and black mica soils. The harvest ferments in tinajas, unburied terracotta jars, and after pressing the wine returns to the tinaja for a year of aging. This aging method enhances the wine's texture, softens the tannins, and develops the fruit. As versatile as it is for pairings, Madloba red can do anything.

Find out more

Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille are the creators of the Domaine des Miquettes, whose great specialty is the use of Georgian techniques. They are passionate about this Caucasian country, the cradle of wine, where eight-thousand-year-old winemaking techniques are still used. At the heart of this viticulture is the qvevri, the buried jar where all the winemaking takes place: fermentation with skin maceration and aging. They set out to explore this country and returned with the decision to age all their wines in buried jars. They have twenty-six, but distinguish between tinajas (Spanish jars) for fermentation-maceration and buried "amphorae" for aging. No sulfur is added. For both reds and whites, the terracotta erases astringency and transmutes it into a velvety texture, a fruity and supple material.

The estate, located in Ardèche, is south of the Saint-Joseph appellation. Paul trained with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two great figures of natural wine in the Rhône Valley. With Chrystelle, he began by taking over Paul's family farm with two ares of vines, then in 2004 the entire estate, which now covers 4.3 hectares. The white grape varieties are located around the house, the red grape varieties are planted on steep hillsides, between 300 and 450 meters above sea level. The plots rest on a granite base with light soils: black mica granite, schist and gneiss. Everything is cultivated organically (Ecocert) with biodynamic practices. The vines are cared for and fortified using plant decoctions and clay. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work. The harvest is entirely manual.

Sylvaner Natural White 2020,

Les Spontanés de GILG

The color of this beautiful dry natural Sylvaner is pale yellow with golden highlights. The nose is powerful and complex, laden with aromas of ripe stone fruit. On the palate, it is round, spherical, polished, generous, and slightly rich, with notes of grapefruit and peach. The finish is long and full of flavor. Within the diverse range of wines produced by the Gilg family, the Les Spontanés series is dedicated to natural wines, with no additives or sulfites added in the vineyard or cellar. This pure Sylvaner comes from young vines, aged eight years; It is ready to drink now and is ideally served between 8 and 10 °C.

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Belonging to a family established since 1601 in the Alsatian wine-growing village of Mittelbergheim, the Armand Gilg estate bears the name of its founder, who resolutely oriented the family business towards viticulture in 1937. Since then, the Gilgs have remained in charge, having expanded the vineyard from an initial one hectare to twenty-nine hectares, purchased centuries-old cellars for bottles and tuns, and built buildings for pressing and other winemaking activities. The estate, classified as HVE (High Environmental Value) for several years, acquired organic farming certification in 2021. Its plots, scattered around the village, are grouped into around a hundred groups, including five hectares on the famous Grand Cru of Zotzenberg, one of the most renowned lieux-dits in Alsace, and one hectare planted solely with Riesling on the Grand Cru Moenchberg. Production embraces all seven traditional Alsatian grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Auxerrois, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer), also including Chardonnay for the Crémants and the Klevener de Heiligenstein (Savagnin Rose). While all the vintages of the Gilg estate are organic, two natural vintages are produced, one based on Pinot Noir, the other on Sylvaner, within the Les Spontanés series dedicated to wines without additives.

Cuvée Expériment Rosé 2020,

Belly Wine Experiment
A rosé with a lot to tell, somehow bridging the gap between Catalonia and Auvergne. Fruit, freshness, liveliness, vivacity, and a beautiful light ruby ​​color. Officially classified as a red wine because it contains white wine, this rosé Experiment cuvée is made from equal parts Gamay from Auvergne and Xarello from Catalonia. The Gamay undergoes semicarbonic maceration in whole bunches for fifteen days, then it is blended with crushed Xarello, along with its stems, and macerated for five days. Classified as Vin de France and with an alcohol content of 12.7%, the wine is produced without any chemical additives, either in the vineyard or in the cellar. It is aged in fiberglass vats.

To find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experiment as it is 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, often 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. The unique feature of Belly Wine Experiment is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of the blends, with Xarel lo from Catalonia, for example, blending naturally with Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme. 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.

Xarab Garnacha Red 2009

Bodega Barranco Oscuro

On south-facing schist hillsides at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Manuel Valenzuela has created this astonishing sweet red wine from the Xarab series, made from Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, raisined on the vine and harvested in December. The wine is rich, intense, and generous, loaded with candied red fruits.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Antenet Cahors Rouge 1998

Danis dans la Vigne

A cellar gem, between family heritage and the depth of time

Here is a rare, almost confidential wine, which tells a story even before it is opened. Antenet 1998 is a unique cuvée, vinified more than twenty-five years ago by Danis's father, the current winemaker of the Danis dans la Vigne estate. This Cahors from another era, made from 100% Malbec, was crafted with respect for tradition and with a philosophy already very close to natural winemaking: short maceration, aging in concrete vats for two years, no oenological "makeup."

The typical clay-limestone soil of the Cahors vineyard produces an excellent keeping wine, with tannins polished by time and incredibly rich aromatics. At only 12% alcohol, it defies modern standards with its balance, freshness, and exceptional longevity.

A deep, aged, memory-filled wine

After more than two decades of rest, Antenet 1998 reveals a brick-red garnet color, with brown reflections. The complex and captivating nose unveils aromas of stewed black fruits, prune, blond tobacco, with a hint of undergrowth. On the palate, the texture is melted, ample, with a rare smoothness. This wine evokes a bygone era, yet remains strikingly delicious, perfect with roasted meats, game, or a dish rich in umami.

Served at 16-18°C, with no need for decanting, this wine is ready to be enjoyed. It is a liquid archive, a family treasure, to be discovered like reading a letter from the past.

Vin paillé Red 2012

Marie and Vincent Tricot

Marie and Vincent Tricot's Vin de paille is undoubtedly a curiosity: it's a sweet wine made from 100% Auvergne Gamay, entirely organic and natural, made like a Vin de paille from the Jura. The harvest is dried on straw in an attic before pressing. We're not used to Gamay vinified this way, or even red wine vinified this way.

It's an experiment, but the result more than justifies the boldness. Drying on straw concentrates the sugar in the grape berries and accentuates the flavors. Only a drop remains in each berry, but what a drop! Sweet, caressing, syrupy, complex, this Vin de paille is a delight. Its color is not a pure red but an amber, and the nose is a veritable basket of slightly jammy fruits: plum, prune, raisins, strawberry. It is possible that a refermentation takes place in the bottle, which can give a sparkling attack to this wine, but it disappears quickly. On the palate, a delicious sweetness, lots of strawberry and pleasantness. Very easy to drink.

To find out more

Among the generation of Auvergne winemakers who, at the dawn of the 21st century, are resurrecting the vineyards of this beautiful volcanic province of the Massif Central in organic and natural ways, Marie and Vincent Tricot are pioneers, and their name is well known to those who have long loved natural wine. After a varied winegrowing journey that took them from Beaujolais to Chile and from Chile to Costières-de-Nîmes, they landed in Auvergne, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, in the commune of Orcet where they took over Claude Prugnard's vineyard, a land that had not seen the slightest chemical input for around thirty years. The estate is located on a hillside, on the left bank of the Allier, in a volcanic clay-limestone area neighboring the vineyards of Châteaugay, Chanturgue and Corent. They acquired it in 2003 and, since then, have been making wines from Auvergne Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a little Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. These rare and sought-after wines are mainly sold directly. They have a straight and flamboyant profile, and express themselves with as much character as simplicity.

Côtes du Rhône Red 2022

Les Grandes Serres

This Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is what its name implies: an organic and natural red wine from the lower Rhône Valley, in the AOC-AOP Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It is part of the estate's "Comics" natural series (see label).

Vinification

The Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is made from 80% Syrah, with 5% of each of the following grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, all grown on limestone and sandstone soils. The harvest is manual, the grapes are destemmed and macerated on the skins for three weeks. After pressing, the wine rests for eight months in stainless steel vats.

Tasting

A good, dense, indulgent, and fruity Côtes-du-Rhône, without the slight bite of sulfites, does that tempt you? This Côtes-du-Rhône is part of the estate's organic and natural "Comics" series and will always be perfect when you want a warm, fruity red wine suitable for all occasions.

Learn more about Domaine des Grandes Serres

Domaine des Grandes Serres, created in 1977 with respect for the environment and the terroir, represents the excellence and vitality, in organic and natural mode, of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, where it covers 12 hectares. To make his estate and merchant wines, he harvests, buys grapes, vinifies, and ages them over a wide area, centered around Châteauneuf and the southern Côtes-du-Rhône, extending to areas such as Lirac and the Costières de Nîmes.

An organic commitment without ostentation

A large portion of the Domaine des Grandes Serres vintages are organic and without added sulfites, although the estate does not publicly boast about it. Modestly, Samuel Montgermont, the estate's general manager, explains that the geological and climatic conditions, particularly the mistral wind, promote the health of the vineyard and allow for the elimination of inputs. While the labels don't take themselves seriously, the wines are solid, fresh, and flavorful.

Yeti Rouge 2024

La Tribu Alonso

The 2024 Yeti cuvée is a wine as atypical as its name, born in Beaujolais under the passionate impetus of the collective La Tribu Alonso. This 100% Gamay, or rather, should we say "100% Gamay diversity," brings together no fewer than 31 different varieties of this grape: Gamay teinturier, white, rosé, old clones, forgotten plants... A mosaic of grapes that reflects the richness of life and the free spirit of its winemakers.

The grapes are grown on granitic soils, without synthetic products, following a completely natural approach, even without certification. After a 5-day semi-carbonic maceration in fiber tanks, fermentation occurs thanks to indigenous yeasts, without oenological input. The wine is then aged for 12 months in concrete eggs, which brings roundness, energy, and balance, without woody masking.

The result? A vibrant and juicy red wine, with a light and brilliant color. The nose reveals crisp red fruits, a herbaceous touch, some sweet spices, and a peppery hint. On the palate, it is fluid, digestible, with a beautiful texture that remains fresh and elegant. A smooth Gamay, but never simplistic.

Yeti can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with artisanal charcuterie, lightly spiced dishes, or even grilled white meats. It's a wine of immediate pleasure, which appeals to both the curious and enlightened lovers of lively natural wines, to be drunk young or within 5 years.

Pinot Noir Red 2023

Covenant Red 2020

Danis dans la Vigne

An exceptional Malbec, matured in the silence of the cellar

Covenant 2020 embodies the philosophy of long-term patience. A truly unique cuvée by Danis dans la Vigne, crafted with rare precision. This 100% Malbec, organically grown on the clay-limestone soils of deep Cahors, is naturally vinified without unnecessary oenological intervention, with a short maceration, then aged for three years in barrels, topped up only once a year. This demanding, bold method allows the wine to concentrate, oxidize slowly, and round out in a near-oxidative dynamic, before a year in stainless steel tanks, then a year of rest in the bottle.

A mature, complex, accomplished wine that contrasts with the sometimes raw image of Malbec. Covenant lives up to its name: a true pact between time, matter, and the winemaker's craft.

Deep, enveloping, meditative

Upon serving, the wine reveals a dark color with deep garnet reflections. The nose is captivating: bitter cocoa, sweet spices, stewed black fruit, truffle, almost a hint of leather. On the palate, it's a unique experience. The texture is velvety, full-bodied, yet perfectly balanced. The length is remarkable, persistent, with a saline finish. One senses a wine in full maturity, ready to be enjoyed, but also built for aging.

Covenant 2020 is perfect for noble red meats, game, a truffle dish, or even a dark chocolate dessert for the most adventurous. Serve at 16-18°C, without decanting, in a large glass that allows it time to breathe.

Borgonon Granate Red 2006,

Barranco Oscuro

Borgoñón Granate is an organic and natural red wine from Andalusia made from Pinot Noir. Classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), it is vinified by Cortijo Barranco Oscuro. As its name suggests, it draws inspiration from Burgundy. This 2006, which has had time to reflect, is one of the best vintages of this cuvée.

Vinification

This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted at an altitude of 1,280 meters on schist soils. The wine is aged for one year in old barrels.

Tasting

Borgoñón Granate is a beautifully atypical wine that displays remarkable density while being relatively clear and not very concentrated (a reference to Burgundy). Intense red fruits, cherries, melted and velvety tannins, and a long and seductive smoky finish. It ages well. Great balance, melted tannins, pair it with a beautiful grilled prime rib or Spanish canned fish. A pata negra ham? Certainly, it's a compatriot.

Learn more about Cortijo Barranco Oscuro

Manuel Valenzuela cultivates the highest vines in the world (1,368 meters), in Andalusia, on the Sierra Contraviesa. Barranco oscuro means "dark valley," a reminder of the original site of the property, which was moved at the end of the 19th century after the phylloxera crisis. In 1979, the estate was taken over by Manuel, who decided to use natural methods in preference to those of modern oenology.

A drop of 1,400 meters

At first, he bought grapes, but his goal was to replant vines. Currently, the twelve hectares of Cortijo Barranco Oscuro extend over a drop of almost 1,400 meters. On a poor, dry, schistose terroir, two localities concentrate the plots: Cerro Las Monjas at the very top and Hoyo y Cerro de Las Gayumbas lower down, near the winery buildings.

High-altitude wines

Strong thermal contrasts explain the freshness of the wines, produced without the addition of exogenous yeasts and without inputs in the vineyard or cellar. Although the estate is not certified organic due to the disillusionment that fraud in this area has brought Manuel, his estate is a member of the Spanish Association of Natural Wine Producers. His wines are straightforward and clean, without compromise: they give joy through the seriousness of the work that was necessary to produce them.

Auxerrois Origin White 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer

Auxerrois Origin by Jean-Marc Dreyer is an organic (AB label), biodynamic, and natural dry white Alsatian maceration wine (orange wine), with no added sulfites. Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range consists of single-varietal cuvées based on six Alsatian grape varieties (Sylvaner, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Muscat), enhanced by skin-contact maceration with a touch of controlled oxidation. The discovery of each Origin vintage is always a pleasant surprise.

Vinification

Auxerrois, or Pinot Auxerrois, is a typically Alsatian grape variety with floral and spicy notes. The harvest, done by hand, is macerated for seven days in whole bunches. After pressing and fermentation, the wine is aged for ten to eleven months in Alsatian style, in tuns and demi-muids, without topping up. Biodynamic method, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, unfiltered, unclarified, no sulfites added in the vineyard or cellar.

Tasting

Floral, fresh, seductive, slightly smoky, Auxerrois Origin by Jean-Marc Dreyer is both atypical and delicious. The maceration gives it a distinguished chew on very fine tannins. With its amber color, floral notes, seductive bitters, delicious salinity, hints of white peach and citrus, and perfect straightness, it is ready for any pairing. A bellota Iberico ham would melt with happiness next to it, but it will also be a delight alongside smoked fish, seafood platters, mature cheeses, or white meats. We will enjoy it, for our part, with a beautiful roasted poultry.

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 biodynamics. In 2009, upon returning from a pilgrimage to Compostela, he decided never to add sulfur to any wine again. Having made this decision, he asserted his style around skin maceration, accentuated, chiseled, bringing out the soul of Alsatian grape varieties. Jean-Marc also works with direct pressing and often with single varietals. He also produces Pinot Noir reds of surprising depth.

Maceration and Direct Press

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

In Absentia Red 2018

La Senda

Entirely produced in the north of El Bierzo from trousseau (locally called bastarda) on various quartz-clay-limestone plots at an altitude of 550 meters. The vines are seventy to ninety years old. Maceration lasts three to four days in chestnut vats, followed by nine months of aging in French oak barrels. No filtration, no added sulfites. Dark garnet color, smoky and fruity nose (trousseau-style: black cherry and raspberry), with a characteristic hint of bitter cocoa and peony. The mouthfeel is full and velvety, the flavor is fruity and smoky, both crisp and mineral. The delicious finish calls for another sip... Serve with roasted game birds, rare pigeon, roast venison, coq au vin, or chicken mole poblano. In a carafe, it will fully express its charms.

Munjebel CD Red 2020

Cornelissen
Munjebel CD is a single-plot red cuvée, certified organic (Eurofeuille) and biodynamic. Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, it is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from a single plot in the Calderara Sottana contrada, at an altitude of 610 m, facing north. This high-quality contrada is appreciated in cold and difficult vintages: its gravelly soil absorbs heat and re-radiates it during the coldest hours of the night.

Vinification
100% Nerello Mascalese, Munjebel CD comes from 40-year-old vines cultivated biodynamically. The grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation starts from a vat foot and is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. Aged for 18 months in epoxy vats, then 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
This highly regarded contrada produces quite feminine wines, combining elegance and depth, especially in the best years. You can pair them with red meats, charcuterie, and great Italian, Iberian, or Gascon hams. For example, ham from black pork from Bigorre or a cecina (beef ham) from maison Aitana.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…