Gift Ideas for Rookies

Les Bonnes Quilles Blanc 2021

Domaine Bois Moisset
The Bois-Moisset estate presents this new cuvée, the aptly named Les Bonnes Quilles. A rich yet dry white wine, as the Southwest, and particularly the Gaillac region, knows how to make. At once fresh, robust, and pleasant, this white wine, classified as a Vin de France, offers superb aromas on both the nose and the palate. A wine for friends and good food, with a sunny and convivial profile. It is a blend of three white grape varieties, the two main ones—Sauvignon and Muscadelle—of which are common in the Southwest of France. The third, at 10%, is the indigenous Gaillac grape variety Len-de-l’el (far-from-the-eye), so named because of the length of its stalk. The vines grow on the clay-limestone molasse soils of the first slopes of Gaillac and the grapes are harvested by hand. The Sauvignon and Muscadelle are directly pressed and rest in vats, while the Loin-de-l'Oeil is destemmed and macerated on the skins for eight weeks. The two vats are blended at bottling, with the macerated Loin-de-l'Oeil acting as a spice.

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The name Gaillac, the region where the Bois-Moisset estate is located, owned by Sylvie Ledran and Philippe Maffre, has been associated with wines since Antiquity; it is the oldest vineyard in France, with two thousand years of history and an impressive collection of ancient indigenous grape varieties. It is also a region of dazzling beauty, nicknamed "French Tuscany" because of its gentle hills planted with groves and its almost Florentine luminosity. Many estates, including that of Bois-Moisset, showcase this uniquely rich winemaking heritage. Along with an estate planted with vines, it is an organic mixed farm that directly sells its production of lentils, sunflower oil, cereal flours, and grape juice. A herd of old local breed cows also thrives there, and guest rooms are available in the summer. It is in this small rural paradise that natural wines typical of their origin and terroir are born, on fifteen hectares of boulbènes, gravelly and sandy-loam soils carried by the Tarn for thousands of years. The grape varieties are dominated by Syrah and Duras, but the ampelographic richness of Gaillacois (braucol, prunelart, loin-de-l'œil, etc.) is also evident in the vintages of the Bois-Moisset estate, which consist particularly of red wines with crisp fruitiness, concentrated but with smooth and delicate tannins.

Xino Xano Beer 2022,

Cyclic Beer Farm
Tart, exotic, and refreshing, Xino Xano, conditioned in barrels, is made for summer and tapping. It's a perfect beer for the beach or for contemplating the deep blue sea, and a Berliner Weisse (Berlin-style white beer) obtained, as the method dictates, by brewing without boiling. It is composed of half organic malted barley from Belgium, 25% organic malted wheat from Belgium, and 25% organic wheat flakes grown in Spain. Xino Xano is then co-fermented with the house cocktail of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria and finally receives a significant addition of dry hops (the variety varies depending on the vintage). Xino Xano alcohol content is 4%.

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Cyclic Beer Farm is a duo of Barcelona friends, Alberto and Joshua. Based in the Catalan capital, they have two sides to their business: beer (Cyclic Beer) and wine (Cyclic Wine). The beers, inspired by the Belgian model, are available in surprising and colorful ranges where expertly measured yeast cocktails and house brews combine with varied macerations of fruits, vegetables, herbs and grape marc from traditional Catalan varieties, the latter taken after the fermentation of their wines - because the second side is the wine, made exclusively from native Catalan grape varieties. Packaged in 75 cl bottles so that everyone can satisfy their thirst, the beers play between classicism and flights of inspiration, in a contrasting and creative way, Catalan style, without forgetting to dare the beer with wine, of course. On classic bases and a Belgian fermentation model, the two brewers-winemakers Joshua and Alberto play with ingredients, aromas, macerations, between cereals, fruits, vegetables or grape skins of Catalan grape varieties, to achieve flavors that are reminiscent of the Obni (unidentified drinkable object). Whether they assert themselves on balance or on a certain managed dissonance, these beers will never leave you indifferent and will reveal their full potential during the summer heat, served well chilled (like their creators).

Sumoll Red 2019,

Cyclic Beer Farm

Cyclic Beer Farm is a duo of friends from Barcelona, Alberto and Joshua. Based in the Catalan capital, they have two sides to their business: beer (Cyclic Beer) and wine (Cyclic Wine). The beers, inspired by the Belgian model, are available in surprising and colorful ranges where expertly measured yeast cocktails and house brews combine with varied macerations of fruits, vegetables, herbs and grape marc from traditional Catalan varieties, the latter taken after the fermentation of their wines - because the second part is the wine, made exclusively from native Catalan grape varieties. As merchant winemakers, Alberto and Joshua themselves harvest by hand from organic wineries throughout Catalonia and bring the harvest to their winery-brewery workshop in La Sagrera (Barcelona). There they sort the grapes, tread them under foot and vat the must using exclusively indigenous yeasts. Depending on the type of wine, skin maceration takes place on the skins and stems for between one and three days for the whites and between six and fifteen days for the reds. The free-run juice is then transferred without pressing into stainless steel tanks where fermentation continues before bottling. The skins and stems, and sometimes part of the juice, are then used for the maceration of saison beers: an interesting synergy between beer and wine. No sulfites are added to the vinification; nothing is added or removed from the wine, which is never filtered. The harvest and other viticultural operations are decided according to the lunar calendar.
This all-Sumoll red wine (a traditional Catalan grape variety) comes from almost century-old vines planted in Mas Llorenç, in the Lower Penedès, on limestone soils. The altitude of the plot is 260 meters. The harvest is sorted, 10% foot-crushed, then undergoes 27 days of semi-carbonic maceration. After a second, very moderate crushing, fermentation continues in stainless steel tanks. This wine truly reflects the grape variety's signature, with a very fresh attack, lovely acidity, fruity complexity, and moderate tannins. Its modest alcohol content makes it a good aperitif and get-together wine. It will be a hit at a summer barbecue.

Crucella Red 2019

La Vinicola di Antonio Gismondi

The estate's only red, Crucella is a beautiful blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, and the ancient local Freisa grape variety, which imparts a slight hint of musky red fruit, but the Sangiovese dominates. The harvest macerates for five or six days in stainless steel vats, then the wine is aged for seven to ten months in the same type of vat. Crucella is characterized by a nose of undergrowth, mineral and earthy, a lively and acidic attack on the palate, red fruit, cherry on the retro-olfaction, and tannins that are less present than the deep color would suggest. Definitely a good wine for laying down that will blossom over time.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Tinto Cosecha BCDC Red 2018

Bodegas Coruña del Conde
BCDC (the initials of the winery) is a 100% Tempranillo from vines planted at an altitude of over 1,000 meters. From the vineyard to the winery, all work is artisanal and carried out with respect for nature. The harvest is destemmed and macerated for 30 days in vats. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in vats, and the wine is then aged for five months in old 500-liter French oak barrels. This 2018 was bottled in May 2020 and, as is Spanish practice, was left to rest for a few months before release. It is a full-bodied, dark, dense red that is full of personality and pairs well with red meats and grilled meats.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

BN Blanco Natural Blanc 2020,

Partida Creus
This tangy, exotic, and aromatic white is made from 90% Macabeu and 10% Cartoixá Vermell. It evokes an avalanche of ripe yellow fruits—apricots in particular—orange blossom, and musky spices, balanced by delicate acidity and light tannins. Perfect as an aperitif or at the start of a meal, it has only 10% alcohol.

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Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-versed—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug tickled them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they found a number of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of saving their heritage, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to produce their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. There is also Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast of growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single varietals are common among them, alongside very rich blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that indicate the cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

Pimpant Rouge 2020,

Domaine Capmartin
Sixty percent Syrah, ten percent Grenache, twenty percent Tannat, and a hint of mystery grape variety that provides the spice; Pimpant, in the Côtes-de-Gascogne appellation, lives up to its name and brings with it the joy of living. Made from a blend of several high-quality plots, it grows on north-facing clay-gravel soils and rolled pebbles on red clay. The average age of the vines is ten years. The use of cover crops helps loosen the soil and provides nutritional support, alternating with natural grass cover. The harvest is destemmed and macerated carbonically before being aged for six months on lees in stainless steel vats. No additives or sulfur are added. In creating this wine, Domaine Capmartin wanted to offer us a non-appellation cuvée entirely intended for pleasure, sharing, and conviviality. It is the result of blending several plots and is intended to be accessible, fruity, light, and unpretentious. "The bottle you open as an aperitif when you don't want to worry," says Simon Capmartin. It's a wine you uncork when you want to be very kind to yourself and to others. But drink it within the year, that's the winemaker's advice.

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Guy Capmartin settled in 1985 in the former convent of Maumusson-Laguian, in the Gers, to exploit the magnificent surrounding soils, from which he would soon produce highly acclaimed wines in the Madiran and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh appellations. In 1987, Tradition, his first vintage, was born. By the 2000s, he had decided to work exclusively in organic and biodynamic agriculture, a decision reinforced and entrenched by his son Simon, who took over. The wines were noted and received numerous awards. Certification was obtained in 2013, and the Demeter label is in progress. Taking advantage of his most specific plots on the estate, Simon also began to produce natural vintages, without inputs and according to the principle of minimal interventionism. Labeled Vin de France or Côtes-de-Gascogne, these are the vintages we offer at Culinaries.
The estate's grape varieties are organized around Tannat, the king of Madiran, surrounded by a palette as rich and diverse as the estate's soils: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, a little Syrah and Grenache Noir, plus a few old red vines currently being identified. A plot of tannat, located on a very fine and very supple clay-marl soil with gravel, is pre-phylloxera. For the white, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu, as well as, for the Côtes-de-Gascogne, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Viognier.
The main objective of the Capmartin estate is to make frank, fruity, authentic and honest wines, perfectly reflecting their terroir, which explains the parcel-based nature of the wines under the appellation: one parcel corresponds to one vintage, and vice versa. This also explains the number and variety of vintages.

Syrah Rouge 2019,

Domaine des Miquettes
Domaine des Miquettes creatively and passionately combines the terroir and winemaking traditions of the Rhône with those of Georgia, whose viticulture is a model for Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille, the estate's founders. Located in Ardèche, south of the Saint-Joseph appellation, Paul trained with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two leading figures in 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, while the red grape varieties are planted on steep slopes, 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 grown organically (Ecocert) using biodynamic practices. The vines are cared for and fortified with plant and clay decoctions. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work. The harvest is entirely manual.
The great specificity of the Domaine des Miquettes remains the use of Georgian techniques, inspired by their passion for 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 discover 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, terracotta erases astringency and transmutes it into a velvety texture, a fruity and supple substance.
A Syrah of noble simplicity. Produced from vines planted in Ardèche, on plots with light soils of black mica granite, schist and gneiss on a granite base, this French wine seduces with a nose of red fruits that continues with a velvety, peppery and raspberry palate.

CX Cartoixa Blanc 2019,

Partida Creus
Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There, they found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of heritage rescue: no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravelly, poor and poorly irrigated lands, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. This is why their estate is as important on a wine level as on a historical level – here we are talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia.
Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture, in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet (among others) are also grown here. Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-varietal wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits exclamations of joy.
This rarity is a still dry white wine made from Cartoixà Vermell (another identity of Xarel·lo Rosado, a traditional rosé grape variety) that explodes with freshness and extremely rich aromatic notes: white peach, rhubarb, strawberry and even papaya. A slight appetizing bitterness rewards this absolutely delicious wine that will perform equally well on its own and with food.

Danslezetoiles 2018, Es d'aqui Jean Louis Pinto
This blend of Braucol, Carignan, and Muscat grown on clay-limestone soils was vinified in amphorae. Notes of candied black fruits and leather are added to the fruity and herbaceous notes, to the delight of natural wine adventurers. Lots of aromatic presence, character, and originality.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Accompaniment: Organic Cul Noir pork sausage

El Aqueronte Red 2019

La Senda

El Aqueronte refers to Acheron, the river of the underworld in Greek mythology. We therefore expect base notes firmly rooted in the soil and black fruits, and they are there: a beautiful dark garnet color, a smoky and fruity nose (black cherry), peony, and cocoa, and a velvety, cherry-peppery texture on the palate, a harmony between minerality and fruit. Made from 100% Mencia grapes (from the Trousseau), unfiltered and unsulfured, this wine comes from seventy to ninety-year-old vines grown in the north of Bierzo on a homogeneous plot with clay-limestone soils rich in quartz, at an altitude of 555 meters. The grapes macerate for three to four days in old, unsealed chestnut vats; the wines are aged in French oak barrels for eleven months. Decanting is recommended.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Chardonnay White 2022,

Frédéric Cossard

Frédéric Cossard, a key figure in natural wine in Burgundy, offers us with his 2022 Chardonnay a pure and elegant interpretation of this emblematic grape variety. Produced from clay-limestone terroirs, this wine is distinguished by its precision and balance.

A Chardonnay of finesse and purity

Vinified without additives and aged with care, this Chardonnay reveals all the richness of its terroir. Its careful aging results in a beautiful mineral tension and a refined texture, perfect for immediate drinking or extended cellaring.

A delicate nose and a chiseled palate

On the nose, it expresses notes of citrus, green apple, and white flowers, with a hint of hazelnut. The mouth, taut and mineral, reveals a beautiful liveliness, supported by a precise acidity and a long and saline finish.

How to serve it?

To be enjoyed chilled, between 10 and 12°C, this Chardonnay will enhance seafood, creamy poultry or a platter of mature cheeses. With an aging potential of 5 to 10 years, it will evolve towards even more complex aromas.

P Red 2023,

Patrick Bouju

A volcanic Pinot Noir with controlled power

The P 2023 cuvée, produced by Patrick Bouju, is an exceptional red made from Pinot Noir with a touch of Gamay. Grown on the unique basalt soils of the Gergovie plateau in Auvergne, these grape varieties express themselves here with remarkable intensity and freshness.

Tasting: depth and character

On the nose, the P 2023 offers complex aromas of ripe red fruits, black cherry, and light spicy notes. On the palate, it reveals a velvety texture and a precise tannic structure, with a long finish marked by mineral and smoky touches.

A wine for large tables

With its aromatic power and finesse, this Pinot Noir pairs ideally with grilled red meats, stews or even hard cheeses. Served between 16 and 18°C, it can be enjoyed now or kept for up to 5 years to develop more complex aromas.

Burgundy Bedeau red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

Bedeau is an organic and natural red wine from Frédéric Cossard in the AOC/AOP Bourgogne region. While a "generic" red Burgundy, it perfectly evokes the character of its appellation and is suitable for all occasions. This is the red counterpart to the Bigotes cuvée.

Vinification

Bedeau is made from Pinot Noir vines grown on clay-limestone soils, on forty-year-old plots in Volnay and the surrounding area, as well as a plot of fifty-year-old vines in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The harvest is macerated in whole bunches.

Tasting

The nose is fresh, natural, evocative of tangy red fruits (morello cherry, plum, redcurrant). Bedeau is a beautiful, delicious and refined Pinot Noir, bursting with fresh, tangy and satiny fruit with a touch of insolence to enhance the whole. Lively and voluminous on the palate, spicy, with velvety and well-integrated tannins. Pair it with Red Meats, charcuterie, freshwater fish matelotes in red wine or beefstewed in sauce.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the Domaine de Chassorney gives voice to Burgundy wines (and others) in organic and natural ways, 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 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.

Burgundy Bedeau Qvevris Red 2022

Frédéric Cossard

Bedeau Qvevris is an organic and natural red wine from Frédéric Cossard in AOC/AOP Bourgogne, vinified in qvevri (Georgian-style terracotta jars). While a "generic" red Burgundy, it perfectly evokes the character of its appellation and is suitable for all occasions. This is the red counterpart to the Bigotes cuvée.

Vinification

Bedeau comes from Pinot Noir vines grown on clay-limestone soils, on forty-year-old plots in Volnay and the surrounding area, as well as a plot of fifty-year-old vines in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The harvest is macerated in whole bunches and the aging is done in qvevri; the use of terracotta for aging produces a fusion and a particular velvety tannins.

Tasting

The nose is fresh, natural, evocative of tangy red fruits (morello cherry, plum, redcurrant). This Pinot Noir is delicious, velvety and very fine, bursting with fresh fruit, with beautifully melted tannins, the result of aging in qvevri. Lively and voluminous mouth, satiny, spicy. Pair it with Red Meats, charcuterie, game in salmis or prepared with red wine, or beef simmered in sauce.

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give organic and natural voice 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 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.

Lune Rayée Red 2021,

Pic Epeiche

The 2021 edition of Lune Rayée from the Pic-Épeiche estate (Haut-Layon, Anjou) is a continuation of the previous vintage, but denser and more intense. This natural cuvée is traditionally produced, entirely by hand, by Jean-Baptiste Peltier. It is made from Cabernet Franc (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) planted in the same plot on clay-limestone soil.

Vinification

Lune Rayée 2021, from the Pic-Épeiche estate, was produced without any inputs to the vineyard except for a little Bordeaux mixture as needed, and without sulfites added to the vinification. Semicarbonic maceration lasts 16 days, followed by a long fermentation in vats using indigenous yeasts. Aging takes place on lees for eleven months, with passage through a vertical press in between.

Tasting

The color of Lune Rayée 2021 is significantly darker than that of the previous vintage. Extraction has been a little more extensive, which intensifies the minerality and structure of the wine. The color remains brilliant, a beautiful, clear ruby. On the palate, there is always this savory, fruity length (still and always fresh strawberries), a marked structure and a saline finish. Lune Rayée 2021 from the Pic-Épeiche estate is a lively and intense wine, with a red fruit structure. This wine without additives is ready to compete with local cuisine — coq au vin for example — but also with local charcuterie and cured meats , which it will enhance as an aperitif. The best would be a roasted squab . Serve slightly chilled.

Learn more about the Pic-Épeiche estate

Entirely natural, prepared in a traditional and artisanal way, the Pic-Épeiche estate is located in Haut-Layon, in Anjou. It is run by Jean-Baptiste Peltier, who learned the trade from Jérôme Lambert https://culinaries.fr/producteurs/jerome-lambert/ and Patrick Desplats: yet another fine example of a natural, non-interventionist wine estate in this Loire region where there are many.

Vineyard and cellar

Very little intervention, therefore, but a lot of vigilance: "We accompany the grapes," says Jean-Baptiste about his natural wines. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin and Grolleau, all from old vines, cultivated and vinified without additives. The macerations are short but the aging is long, almost a year in vats, entirely on lees.

The style

All the freshness and liveliness of the clay-limestone soils are intact in the wines of the Pic-Épeiche estate, which offer the full typicity of the Anjou terroirs worked naturally. Red and white wines are fruity and flavorful, offering a lively and nuanced expression of the local grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Chenin.

Volnay Red 2021

Domaine de Chassorney

This warm and straightforward wine from the Volnay appellation, with notes of red and black fruits, reveals itself on the palate to be balanced and lively, with lovely, gently spicy notes. On the nose, it has already expressed beautiful notes of red fruits (strawberry), spices, and candied fruits. On the palate, it is warm and powerful, with floral aromas and a great minerality on the finish. This Volnay comes from old Pinot Noir vines growing at the bottom of the slopes, on dense, stony soils of ferruginous red clay and limestone. The plots are steep, facing west-southeast and located between 230 and 280 meters above sea level. The vines are worked on horseback, respecting the soil and the earth. The harvest is manual and is carried out when the grapes are fully ripe. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. Aging is approximately one year in barrels.

To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful wine-growing practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked as a wine broker for some time before creating the Domaine de Chassorney with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own wine trading house and buys organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy since vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his home, the soil and vines are worked as naturally as possible: regular horse-drawn ploughing, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for 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. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Alberto Lopez Calvo Tinto Cosecha Red 1998

Coruna del Conde
Named after the man who planted the vines in 1970, this great aging cuvée is composed of Tempranillo as the dominant grape variety, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Merlot. The destemmed harvest ferments in vats before aging in barrels for up to four years. After bottling, the wine undergoes a final aging of two to three years. These methods, as well as the exclusive use of grapes without any additives, are those of the estate's founder, and have been perpetuated by his grandson. Vinified using the Bordeaux method but with a distinctly Iberian character, this wine has a silky, velvety texture, a hallmark of perfectly blended tannins. A delicacy with mature fruit notes, a sublime, accomplished wine for life's finest moments. Drink now.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Volnay Qvevris Red 2018

Frederic Cossard

This Pinot Noir from the Qvevris series (aged for ten months in Georgian-style terracotta jars), from the Les Lurets plot, offers great freshness and elegance on the palate. The fruit is enhanced, as the olfactory notes suggest: black cherry, candied fruit, spices, pepper... The clay aging gives a particular silkiness to this superb Volnay.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Belzebrut White 2018

Domaine La Sorga

Made from 100% Colombard from basalt soils in the Hérault Valley, this is a very pleasant natural sparkling wine. The grapes are pressed directly and the must is not settled. It is aged on slats for six months. The wine is bottled by gravity and disgorged by Antony. This wine has mineral and floral notes that are perfect as an aperitif or dessert. Aging potential: five years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Pairs with: Cheeses, Desserts