Gift Ideas for Rookies

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.

Ploussard Red 2022,

Fréderic Cossard

With this 2022 Ploussard cuvée, Frédéric Cossard, Burgundy's iconic winemaker, offers us a delicate and pure interpretation of this iconic Jura grape variety. Carefully produced and respecting natural principles, this wine seduces with its finesse and freshness.

A Ploussard of elegance

Produced using a viticulture method without additives and gentle vinification, this Ploussard fully expresses the lightness and liveliness of the grape variety. The low extraction and controlled aging allow for a fine and airy structure, where the fruit expresses itself brilliantly.

A subtle nose and a silky palate

The nose reveals delicate notes of fresh red fruits (redcurrant, raspberry), accompanied by a floral and slightly spicy touch. On the palate, the body is supple and elegant, carried by a lively acidity and melted tannins. The persistent finish leaves a beautiful sensation of purity and freshness.

What to taste with this Ploussard?

Served at 16-18°C, this Ploussard will perfectly accompany roast poultry, beef carpaccio or a platter of mature cheeses. With an aging potential of 5 to 10 years, it will evolve towards even more complex aromas.

Fleur tropicale White 2018

Les Valseuses

Inspiration: a deeply soothing and voluptuous song by Francis Bebey. This whole-bunch macerated Jura Chardonnay evokes the same peace: sit back, glass in hand, and contemplate the beauty of the world.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Cœur Brisé (Culinaries exclusivity) Rosé 2022

Aurélien Lefort

Les Marlines Special White Cuvée 2018

Jean Yves Peron

Les Marlines is an organic and natural dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron. This exceptional cuvée, classified as a Vin de France, is produced in Savoie in the Chignin-Bergeron region (without the appellation). It is a 100% Roussanne de Savoie merchant cuvée made from grapes grown biodynamically in Chignin by Gilles Berlioz.

Vinification

Roussannes are produced from young vines (three years old) and older vines growing on poor, shallow limestone subsoil. The plot is south-facing on a predominantly west-facing slope. This is the first harvest from these young vines, and it is producing splendid results. The grapes spend three weeks in carbonic maceration with a week of punching down, then the wine is aged under veil for four years in 225-liter barrels.

Tasting

The oxidative note is unmistakable in this Les Marlines cuvée; it is accompanied by great aromatic richness and real freshness. This complete and adaptable wine offers delicious notes of hay, dried herbs, and apricot, which is the hallmark of Roussanne. As a good sailing wine, this wine will go with everything. We recommend it with very old hard cheeses: or with exceptional charcuterie, such as galabart black pudding, Bigorre black ham or Béarnaise andouille, all three to be found in the selection of the Collectif Padouen. Or a simmered Gascon poultry (we strongly recommend using this wine for the sauce: you will therefore need more than one bottle).

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron

Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics

Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italian-Savoyard trade

Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.

Volnay 1er Cru Carelle Sous la Chapelle Rouge 2019

Domaine de Chassorney
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counterexample to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked as a wine broker for some time before creating the Chassorney estate with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own wine trading house and buys organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy since vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular plowing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. 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. This Pinot Noir, classified as a premier cru, comes from a steep, west-facing plot at an altitude of approximately 280 meters, on marl-limestone soils. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. Aging is approximately one year in barrels. The name of the plot refers to the old chapel that can still be seen today on the edge of the road leading to Monthélie, in the lower part of the village. "Carelle" refers to the shape of the plot, from the Latin quadrus, "square".
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Orange, Rosé 2020

Domaine Bélicard

An intriguing name, a rosé hue, an unexpected structure: Domaine Bélicard's "Orange" is a wine that blurs boundaries and expands the horizons of rosé. A natural wine made from 100% organic Gamay grown in Beaujolais, this 2020 vintage is a bold, almost meditative offering, far from fruity and tart clichés.

A Free-Spirited Rosé with Oxidative Notes

A short maceration of a few hours reveals a deep color with slightly orange reflections, while three months of aging in concrete tanks and a deliberately low-intervention approach allow for controlled micro-oxidation. No enological inputs, indigenous yeasts, and a juice that expresses itself without restraint. The result: an atypical, complex rosé, with depth and excellent aging potential.

A Distinct Aromatic Profile

On the nose, dried flowers dominate, followed by notes of dark fruits, very ripe yellow fruits, and a zesty touch reminiscent of citrus peel. On the palate, the texture is full, almost tannic, with a saline sensation on the finish. The slight oxidation adds dimension and a marked personality, without imbalance.

To Be Tasted Differently

Orange 2020 is an artisanal rosé, to be served between 10 and 12 °C, without decanting, for contemplative aperitif moments or simple but flavorful dishes. It can also age for a few years in the cellar (up to 10 years), to explore its deeper nuances. A wine for enlightened connoisseurs and adventurous palates.

C'est reculer que d'être stationnaire Red 2023,

Danis dans la vigne

With a name as intriguing as "It's a step backward to be stationary," this cuvée by Danis dans la vigne is a true invitation to be bold. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified with a short maceration, offers a fruity and delicate expression of the grape variety, far from overly tannic profiles. Grown on loamy soils in Occitanie, then aged in stainless steel vats for a year, this red wine seduces with its tangy freshness and irresistible crispness.

A lively and accessible red

Thanks to gentle vinification, this Cabernet Sauvignon is distinguished by its finesse and balance. Maceration for a few days preserves the vibrant fruit, without extracting too many tannins, giving rise to a supple and easy-to-drink cuvée. With its moderate alcohol content (12.5%), it is suitable for aperitifs as well as convivial meals.

An explosion of red fruits

The nose opens with a beautiful aromatic freshness, dominated by blackcurrant, accompanied by notes of tangy red fruits. On the palate, the texture is fluid and delicate, with a beautiful tension and a slightly spicy touch on the finish. The whole is carried by an invigorating acidity which reinforces its digestible and drinkable side.

The perfect ally for gourmet moments

Served slightly chilled (14-16°C), "C’est reculer que d’être stationnaire" will ideally accompany a platter of artisanal charcuterie, grilled poultry or an aperitif with friends. Its aging potential of 5 years will also allow you to appreciate its evolution over time.

A joyful and free red, which proves that with movement, everything becomes more alive.

Vagabond Red 2022

Benoit Camus

Vagabond is an organic (Ecocert) and natural red wine from Beaujolais, made by Benoît Camus from Gamay. This Vin de France is produced in the south of the appellation, in the Pierre Dorées terroir. Its name evokes the winemaker's life as a seasonal farmer before purchasing his vineyards in Beaujolais.

Vinification

Growing on clay-limestone soils, the Gamay vines of Beaujolais are cultivated and harvested by hand, as the steep terrain prohibits any mechanized work. The harvest undergoes a semi-carbonic maceration process for fifteen days. The wine is aged in concrete vats for twelve months.

Tasting

Two vintages from Benoît Camus are currently available, this one being the "sweeter" of the two. It is an organic and natural Beaujolais with rich and vibrant fruit—strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, cherry, redcurrant—which we recommend drinking well chilled. The acidity and freshness are remarkable, and the wine offers notes of humus and wet stone. A touch of spice: nutmeg. It is a very aromatic wine, a charmer that will appreciate being paired with charcuterie, cured meats, Red Meats and roasted poultry.

Learn more about Benoît Camus

You might think he's itinerant, with his vintages called "Château roulant" or "Vagabond," but for Benoît Camus, it's a memory of his previous life, when he was a seasonal farmer in the Rhône Valley and as far as Roussillon. Since 2003, he has settled in Southern Beaujolais, in the Pierres Dorées terroir, to make organic (Ecocert) and natural wines.

Nature first, nature always

Before buying his seven-hectare estate from an old winemaker, the vines had not yet seen pesticides or chemical additives. Many in Beaujolais worked like this. He made his first vintage in 2006, "natural without knowing it," he says. A brief attempt at chemical spraying to treat grape worms definitively dissuaded him from adding anything to the vineyard or the winery. He acquired Ecocert organic certification and continued to produce natural products.

The terroir of Pierre Dorées

The southern Beaujolais region, with its clay and limestone, produces wines that are more structured and powerful than those from the granite soils of the north. This is the profile presented by Benoît Camus's reds: natural, straight, dense wines with long aging potential, with good acidity and well-integrated tannins, not to mention abundant, rich, and seductive fruit.

Divin Poison White 2020,

De Vini

Divin Poison is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine made by Christophe Bosque of the De Vini estate using melon de Bourgogne grapes from the Nantes region. Classified as a Vin de France and harvested on gabbro soils characteristic of the region, it has all the hallmarks of a (very good) Muscadet, except for the appellation.

Château Bonnet Eden Red 2021

Les Vignobles Andre Lurton

We first discover a beautiful, deep, vermillion color, a lovely cherry red with some purple highlights that will fade as the wine ages. The nose of this Eden cuvée offers notes of peony and crisp red fruit (cherry, morello cherry) enhanced with a touch of pepper. On the palate, the wine attacks frankly, with plenty of fruit and freshness. The tannic structure is medium, and the tannins are well-integrated. There is a very nice volume on the mid-palate. The olfactory sensation of crisp, juicy cherry is confirmed on the palate. This is a very indulgent, digestible, and very easy-drinking wine, where the fruity notes express themselves freely, with the fullness of the unsulfured wine. It will be appreciated as an aperitif and on any other occasion, but we see it especially at the table, with dishes that are not too sophisticated, dishes of good humor - beautiful grilled red meats, golden duck breasts, country salads: with confit duck gizzards, lentils... The digestibility of wines is a concept that is increasingly close to our hearts; red Bordeaux have long held the torch and we invite you to experience it with this lovely red Entre-Deux-Mers. Château Bonnet cuvée Eden is produced, for the cultivation and vinification, in biocontrol (set of plant protection methods based on the use of natural mechanisms). It is vinified in concrete eggs and classified as Vin de France. No sulfite has been added, either in the vineyard or in the cellar.

To find out more
Lurton is a name that resonates strongly throughout the Bordeaux region: this dynasty of winegrowers, currently represented in France by around ten owners of wine châteaux and a company (Les Vignobles André Lurton) bringing together several estates, has distinguished itself at the head of prestigious properties including several classified growths, from Château-Cheval-Blanc to Château-d'Yquem via Château-Climens... Château Bonnet is the cradle of the Lurton dynasty, planted at the end of the 19th century by the liqueur maker Léonce Récapet, a visionary of viticulture who passed on the virus to most of his descendants. This beautiful estate in the Entre-Deux-Mers has one hundred and twenty hectares of vines. It is traditionally planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and produces white, rosé and red wines. Under the leadership of its new director Mathilde Bazin de Caix and on selected plots, it has recently taken over the management of biocontrol viticulture and vinification, as well as natural wine without chemical or exogenous inputs added to the vineyard or the cellar. For the moment, this is the only Eden vintage, but we hope to produce others in the near future.

Chant Lunaire Red 2023,

Danis dans la vigne

"Chant Lunaire" represents the elegance and sweetness of Jurançon Noir, a rare grape variety from the Southwest, enhanced by Danis dans la vigne. This red wine, produced from loamy soils and vinified gently with a one-week maceration, offers a tangy and fruity profile, both light and silky. With its moderate alcohol content (11%), it is a pleasant, airy and smooth wine, perfect for convivial moments.

A delicate red

Grown in the Cahors region, this Jurançon Noir is vinified with a delicate extraction. After a year of aging in stainless steel vats, it reveals a subtle balance between freshness, roundness and suppleness, without excess tannins. This gourmet and digestible style makes it an excellent table companion, as pleasant as an aperitif as during a meal.

A seductive aromatic palette

From the first nose, "Chant Lunaire" enchants with its bright aromas of juicy cherry, blackberry and crisp red fruits, enhanced by a touch of slightly tangy black fruit. On the palate, the substance is velvety and silky, carried by a beautiful tension that reinforces its natural freshness. The long, luscious finish leaves an impression of sweetness and lightness.

A wine to share without delay

Served between 14 and 16°C, "Chant Lunaire" can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with artisanal charcuterie, roast meats, or spicy Indian cuisine, whose flavors it balances with its supple, fruity structure. With an aging potential of 5 years, it can also evolve towards even more complexity over time.

A joyful and airy wine, perfect for brightening up your evenings.

Susucaru Rosso Red 2023,

Frank Cornelissen

A vibrant and versatile natural red
The Susucaru Rosso 2023 is a unique cuvée from Frank Cornelissen, made from a unique blend of local grape varieties: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Capuccio, Minnella, Alicante Bouschet, and Uva Francesa. Grown on the basalt soils of Mount Etna, these grape varieties are blended in a vinification process using the ancestral method, marked by a one-month destemmed maceration, to create a wine bursting with freshness and character.

A fruity and structured red
To the eye, the Susucaru Rosso 2023 stands out for its bright, lively ruby ​​color. The nose opens with expressive aromas of red berries, ripe cherry, and pink berries, enhanced by a touch of spice and volcanic minerality. On the palate, this wine offers a silky texture, beautiful freshness, and a delicate structure. The flavors of vibrant red fruits are balanced by subtle notes of spice and a slight salinity, for a long, vibrant finish. Served between 14 and 16°C after decanting, it reveals all its richness and energy.

Versatile and convivial
Perfect as an aperitif, Susucaru Rosso also pairs well with cooked fish, white meats or light Mediterranean dishes. Its freshness and structure make it a versatile red wine, suitable for convivial meals as well as more refined occasions.

With an aging potential of 5 years, this cuvée captures the lively and natural spirit of Etna in a modern and accessible expression. An invitation to discover the unique know-how of Frank Cornelissen.

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.

Find out more

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.

Coup de Foudre Rosé 2021,

Domaine Bois Moisset
A cloudy pink color that already makes you thirsty, a nose that expresses its fruit and fermentation discreetly, while the palate, on the contrary, blossoms with great opulence and roundness, making this Coup de foudre a very easy-drinking wine. The texture on the palate is soft, enveloping, silky, with a fruity and delicious substance. The bubbles are fine and lively, with a tonic and tense finish. From the beginning to the end of the tasting, notes of bitter orange and candied citrus peel, a lovely mineral astringency and a bitterness that further ennobles the whole, balancing the velvety fruitiness. A magnificent bottle, this Coup de foudre, which one might think is vinified in a tuns given its name, but this is not the case: here we have an entirely organic and natural wine, one hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, pressed at the harvest and fermented in fresh juice in a room where the temperature is maintained at 19 °C. This alcoholic fermentation is followed by malolactic fermentation and the wine is bottled without filtration. The secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle with indigenous yeasts and, of course, without sulfites added at any stage of the vinification. Disgorging in December. We recommend chilling this beautiful wine upright for a day before opening to avoid excessive overflow upon opening.

Find out more
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 brightness. Many estates, along with that of Bois-Moisset, showcase this uniquely rich winemaking heritage. Along with a vineyard, this 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 during the summer months. 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 the Gaillac region (braucol, prunelart, loin-de-l'œil, etc.) is also evident in the Bois-Moisset estate's vintages, which consist particularly of red wines with crisp fruit, 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%.

To find out more
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).

Nuria Cartoixa Vermell Sparkling White 2018

Clos Lentiscus
Purity, elegance, and a crisp minerality due to the limestone characterize the productions of Clos Lentiscus. The note of controlled oxidation, when present, does not dominate the tasting, and the wines are never deviant. The cavas are renowned for their exuberance, but those from Clos Lentiscus never have more than two grams of residual sugar per liter. The estate also produces still red, white, and rosé wines.

This winery is located in Sitges, Catalonia, in the heart of the Garraf Natural Park. Manel Avinyo and his brother Joan took over the family estate, renamed Clos Lentiscus by Manel. Even though Barcelona is only a half-hour drive away, the beauty of the landscape is striking and the immersion in nature is total: Mediterranean forests rub shoulders with Catalan scrubland (thyme, rosemary, rockrose, mastic tree which gave its name to the estate, etc.). The Penedès region also has a long winemaking history. Nestled in its gentle hills is Clos Lentiscus, in the Penedés appellation, on twenty hectares of sandy and clay-limestone soils facing due south at an altitude of 225 meters. According to historical documents, Manel and Joan Avinyo's family has been established there since at least the 14th century. For a long time, the grapes were sold to local cooperatives, but as soon as the two brothers took over the estate, organic and biodynamic farming replaced conventional practices, the entire harvest goes into the house vintages, and organic and biodynamic practices have allowed this beautiful property to regain its former prestige: in the 19th century, its wines were sold in France and as far away as the Americas. Very quickly, Manel received a nickname: The Bubbleman, a tribute to his talent for vinifying cavas, these sparkling whites characteristic of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, from indigenous varieties for which Catalonia holds the secret: sumoll, ull de llebre, xarel·lo, malvasia of Sitges, cartoixà vermell, cariñena (carignan), accompanied by tempranillo and muscat of Alexandria. The vines are old, some of them centuries old. No synthetic additives are used in the vineyard, and operations such as planting, pruning, de-budding, and harvesting are dictated by the lunar phases. Pollination is facilitated by the presence of beehives; sheep contribute to fertilization and control of the plant cover. Ringo, the white horse, is responsible for working the soil.

Núria is the name of Manel's daughter, who assisted her father in the creation of this fresh and delicious sparkling white wine, made using ancestral methods, from the direct pressing of the native Catalan Cartoixà Vermell grape variety. The primary fermentation, based on indigenous yeasts, takes place in 55-liter demijohns, and the secondary fermentation takes place in bottles. Twenty-four months of aging on fine lees and manual disgorgement. A wine for fried shrimp, fried fish, and all seafood from the Mediterranean and beyond.

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.

Le Grenache du Bois Saint Jaume Rouge 2021

Fond Cyprès
Fresh, delicious, supple, intense, balanced, and with a surprising length on the palate, this beautiful red Grenache in Vin de France is perfect for drinking or keeping. Delicate and velvety, it offers beautifully blended tannins and a magnificent balance with notes of undergrowth and garrigue plants. It has the generous and caressing character of its grape variety. It is a good example of the "forest" wines of Fond Cyprès, marked not only by their grape varieties but also by the wooded and windy environment that refreshed the grapes' growth. After hand-harvesting, destemming the grapes, and fermenting for four weeks in concrete vats, the wine spends ten months aging in old barrels. It comes from a sandy plot of Grenache vines surrounded by a forest and a biodynamic olive grove. It is aged for nine to twelve months in old 228-liter demi-muids, which have the advantage of not oaking the wine but ensuring a comfortable, gentle aging process.

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This Languedoc estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already have a clear objective: "to produce 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 old Corbières massif, they took over an old heart of an estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache vines, which had seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean and vibrant soils are ideal conditions for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. Vinification is carried out without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first evaluated by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. Fond Cyprès wines poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: pine forests, shaded springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the signature of the soil. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, plant environment and fruit expression, Fond Cyprès wines reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.