Last Chance

Mensonge à Papa Red 2020,

Belly Wine Experiment

Here is a light, fresh, supple, and fruity red that proudly bears the banner of Gamay from two regions: Auvergne and Beaujolais. It is the result of a blend of equal parts of these two origins of the same grape variety, neither entirely identical nor entirely different. An ode to Gamay, in a way. These Gamays from Auvergne and Beaujolais are first slowly pressed, then their must is added to whole bunches for a fifteen-day carbonic maceration. Aging takes place in fiberglass vats. Classified as a Vin de France and with an alcohol content of 13.5%, it will be wonderful as an aperitif or with a meal, 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 experience as a winemaking business. The creative duo has it in spades: 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 or Jura grape varieties, readily in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a winemaker-poet 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 being able to rub shoulders, for example, with Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semi-carbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical inputs or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.

Senzaniente Pecorino White 2023

Azienda Agricola Marina Palusci

Terroir, plot size and grape varieties

The Senzaniente Pecorino 2023 is a vibrant tribute to the Abruzzo terroir, where the Pecorino grape, typical of the region, draws all its energy. On the clay-limestone soils of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo hills, this ancient variety reveals a robust character, balancing lemony freshness with floral brilliance. It is a wine of place, expressing with candor the light, the stone, and the vines.

Cultivation methods

At the Marina Palusci estate, vineyard work is carried out using a natural and respectful approach: no fertilizers, no synthetic products, and no added sulfites. Everything is designed to allow the vine and the wine to fully express themselves, without artifice or constraint. Winemaking follows this same philosophy: natural fermentation, no additives, for a lively and vibrant white wine.

Tasting & pairings

The nose is a veritable explosion of freshness: lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus zest, and a delicate touch of jasmine. On the palate, the wine is both round and lively, with lovely tension, a crisp texture, and a fruity finish of apple and citrus. This natural white wine is balanced, expressive, with a delightful bounce that invites you to come back for more. It can be enjoyed as an aperitif or with a meal, paired with grilled fish, sautéed mushrooms, aged cheeses, or even lightly spiced Asian dishes. A bright, joyful, and natural wine, best served chilled for maximum enjoyment.

Tonton Red 2014

Vincent Wallard

This 100% Cabernet Franc comes from Vincent Wallard's Loire winery. Produced from clay-limestone soils, the grapes are vinified using a mille-feuille process (skin-on maceration using layers of destemmed grapes and whole bunches to control the astringency of the tannins) before aging for twenty months. Excellent with red meats and wild mushrooms (particularly porcini mushrooms), it can be aged for twenty years.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Musk White 2012

Bodega Barranco Oscuro

This single-varietal Muscat wine comes from a plot planted at an altitude of 1,300 meters on schist and clay soils. The wine is aged for ten months in old barrels.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Life of the party Red 2020

Danis dans la vigne

Life of the Party (more or less translatable as "the party animal") is an organic and natural red wine from the Cahors terroir, certified AB and Nature & Progrès. This blend of red grape varieties from the Southwest is made by Danis Bessières, winemaker at Danis dans la vigne, using grapes from his family estate in Antenet.

Vinification

Life of the Party, produced on clay-loam soils resting on limestone gravel, is made from the red grape varieties Malbec, Egiodola, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. In addition to the Cabernet Francs that are around ten years old, the vines are between 30 and 40 years old. The vinification is carried out without any additives, with a short maceration. No added sulfites, yeast or enzymes. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats.

Tasting

The garnet red color catches the eye and a large packet of fruit explodes in the mouth. Life of the Party, a joyful and free-spirited wine, is a natural, unadulterated red that's festive, convivial, and indulgent. The blend of grape varieties—in a region traditionally favored by Malbec alone—produces a supple, fruity, and nuanced result, perfect for any celebration. A board of charcuteries and salaisons will pay tribute to him, but you can also serve him at the table.

Learn more about Danis dans la vigne

Under the Danis dans la vigne brand, on the Cahors terroir, Danis Bessières vinifies naturally the organic grapes purchased from his parents' property, the Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1900s. 80.

Organic and natural since 1983

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

Malbec, but not only

Malbec reigns over the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot and recently created grape varieties. This allows him to temper the density and opacity of the main grape variety. He also does not hesitate to produce single-varietal vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or Colombard.

Crapaud Licorne Rouge 2022

Danis dans la vigne
Under the enigmatic name of Crapaud Licorne stands an organic and natural red wine from the Cahors terroir, 100% Malbec, certified AB and Nature & Progrès. It is made by Danis Bessières (Danis dans la vigne) from organic grapes from his family's Domaine de l'Antenet.

Vinification
Danis Bessières's Crapaud Licorne is based on Malbec, the emblematic red (and even black) grape variety of Cahors. It comes from 30- to 40-year-old vines growing on clay-loam and limestone gravel soils. The vinification is carried out without any additives, with a short maceration. The aging is done in stainless steel vats.

Tasting
This deep purple-red color, no mistake, it's Malbec, the Cahors grape variety from which "black wines" are made. This red wine from Danis Bessières, dense, dark, full-bodied and rich in substance, fits the description well. Toad Unicorn needs local dishes and charcuterie from the region: the galabart black pudding from the Mayrinhac farm or the black pudding from the Collectif Padouen will accompany it with talent. If Malbec interests you, discover a completely different expression with Cyprès de toi rosé from Fond Cyprès.

Learn more about Danis dans la vigne
Under the Danis dans la vigne brand, in the Cahors terroir, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes purchased from his parents' 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: to make 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 this momentum.

Malbec, but not only
Malbec reigns over the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot and recently created grape varieties. This allows him to temper the density and opacity of the main grape variety. He also does not hesitate to create single-varietal cuvées of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or Colombard.

Brutal Bestial Rouge 2020

Partida Creus


Fine and pleasant bubbles, liveliness and freshness: Brutal Bestial is the Partida Creus version of the Brutal cuvée principle, born at the Bar Brutal in Barcelona and used by a large number of natural winemakers throughout Europe. This version is a natural sparkling wine that combines several graces: a light cherry color with a slightly brick color, 100% Bobal grape variety, fresh and tangy, perfect for aperitifs and table wines. Brutal Bestial first offers a bouquet of red fruits with a hint of citrus peel and a creamy mouthfeel. Strawberry and raspberry notes are intertwined with earthy, mineral touches, a hint of yeast, and hints of rhubarb, blackcurrant, and blueberry. This kind of fruity and mineral complexity makes it suitable for pairing with oily fish in all its forms: sardines, mackerel, tuna, or anchovies. Try it with mackerel sashimi or marinated sardines. These pairings are only indicative: it is perfect with many dishes.

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Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of wine and history—we are talking here 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-known—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug tickles them, and soon they abandon the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revive 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. 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 viticulture, entirely manual and natural to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety 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 vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush yet always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, exude life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

BB "Raul" Red 2018,

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. Of natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. This is why their estate is as important from a winemaking perspective as it is from a historical perspective - we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia.
Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural 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, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety 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 vintage. 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 100% Bobal is a racy and finely wild red from the Raul plot, built on a grape variety common in Spain but whose expression is very original here. Dark cherry red color; on the nose, candy, sweet flowers, fresh fruits, violet, thyme. On the palate, a lot of distinction: a straight acidity and morello cherry, ripe plum, black pepper, a small saline touch on the finish. Serve well chilled.

TN Rouge 2020,

Partida Creus
The Catalan estate of Partida Creus is as important from a winemaking perspective as it is from a 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-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. On their part, it’s not just a matter of saving heritage, 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. 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 beautiful blend of Sumoll, Ull de Llebre and Bobal produces a smooth, crisp and fruity (black fruits) table wine with earthy and smoky notes. Excellent gurgling, a wine for friends, the owner's cuvée, full of sunshine and personality.

SP Blanc 2019

Partida Creus
Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking and history—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-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. On their part, it’s not just a matter of saving heritage, 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. 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 are also Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet (among others). 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 varietals 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 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.
The parent Subirat, one of the oldest Catalan grape varieties and a close relative of Malvasia, remains rare even in its country of origin. The clay-limestone soil reinforces its freshness and uprightness. The harvest is pressed after a three-day skin maceration. The must is settled and fermented using indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats. It rests for three months in vats on fine lees before bottling. This wine is crisp and aromatic, with a nose of ripe white fruits, melon, and wildflowers. Agile on the palate, fresh and straightforward, lemony and slightly saline, with a long finish tinged with a delicate bitterness typical of the estate.

Morgon mc2 Rouge 2017,

Nicolas Chemarin
MC2 is the result of blending two plots of Morgon (Corcelette and Les Charmes) planted with forty-year-old Gamay grapes, on sandy and schist soils with a subsoil of clay and decomposed rock. The harvest ferments in whole bunches in concrete vats for twenty days, and the wine is aged for ten months in neutral oak: the result is a dense, dark Beaujolais, very mineral, and long-lasting. This fruity and structured wine can age for another five or six years, but it is already perfect.

Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Combe du Temps Blanc 2019,

Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
This estate is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of Cathar Country. Stretching from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, and rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the Font Juvénal area, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and coolness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is decided based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
Sixty percent Chenin, twenty percent Sémillon, and twenty percent Roussanne: this is the blend that makes up the white cuvée of La Combe du Temps. A blend that traces a geographical triangle between Chenin, more associated with the Loire, Sémillon from the Southwest, and Roussanne from the Southeast. All three are fermented naturally, using indigenous yeasts, before aging for nine months in old barrels. No sulfites are added. Delicious and expressive, it is lively and dry with a lovely nuance of melted wood. The elegance and slightly rich note are traits found in all the whites from this estate. Its balance will delight everyone and give it access to numerous flavor pairings.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Without a prescription White 2020,

Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
This estate is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of Cathar Country. Stretching from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, and rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the Font Juvénal area, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and coolness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is decided based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
The Sans ordonnance white cuvée is made from sixty percent Muscat à Petit Grain and forty percent Viognier. Fermentation takes place naturally in stainless steel vats without fining or filtration, and aging is nine months in old barrels. The nose is fine, complex, exotic without excess: the musky notes of Muscat à Petit Grain are initially very discreet and then develop in the glass. The aroma unfolds on the palate with very controlled notes of ripeness, wisteria, honey candy, and yellow peach. The freshness is wonderful, tempered by a little fat. A delicious and expressive wine.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Le Pressoir de Saint Pierre Blanc 2020

La Grapperie
Le Pressoir de Saint-Pierre is a magnificent expression of Chenin Blanc, a grape variety that is the hallmark of the central Loire Valley region. On the nose, it reveals fruity and citrus aromatic treasures, and already a hint of smoke and flint that promises wonders. On the palate, it confirms with notes of white and yellow fruits (apricot, apple, peach, mandarin) and rare and splendid smoky, earthy, and siliceous accents. Its voluptuous texture will wonderfully envelop smoked fish, white meats, and mushrooms. The elegance and maturity of the wine reflect the old vines from which it comes, planted in 1935 on tuffeau, marl limestone and flint clay soils on the left bank of the Loire. Despite aging for twenty-four months in barrels, this wine has a low alcohol content and retains a very nice minerality. The harvest is processed directly by pressing and the aging is one year in barrels.

To find out more
In the Coteaux du Loir appellation, La Grapperie is the name of the estate of Renaud Guettier, who can be described as a master of Chenin, but also of Pineau d'Aunis, which is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Loire Valley. His principle, he confides, is "to produce complex, rich wines, with good aging potential and imbued with the minerality of their terroir." The vines are located on hillsides, between 60 and 120 meters above sea level, protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are predominantly clay (at the bottom of the slope), flint (mid-slope) or sand (on the higher ground). The 60-hectare vineyard comprises around fifteen plots. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized varieties in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the remainder consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay and Grolleau. The average age of the vines is seventy years, including almost two hectares of century-old vines and one and a half hectares of vines aged between sixty and eighty years. Convinced of the enormous potential that these old vines can bring to his vintages, Renaud undertakes meticulous work to restore the vineyard. The entire estate is cultivated organically. The soils are worked and all viticultural interventions are manual, including the harvest, carried out at full maturity, which is reflected in the fullness and smoothness of the wines. For the reds, the Pineaux d'Aunis are partially destemmed (depending on the plot) and the macerations are quite long, three to four weeks, with punching down, to promote aging potential. The wines are aged in barrels for between twelve and twenty-four months, then racked, blended and bottled without filtration. For the whites, the Chenins are pressed directly at low pressure and then poured into barrels by gravity. Fermentation takes place in barrels, on indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.

Les Orgues Rouge 2017,

Frédéric Gounan
Fruit, minerality, and straightforwardness: the volcanic and mineral expression of Pinot Noir, unique to Auvergne, is incomparable. Les Orgues is a pure Auvergne Pinot Noir produced biodynamically on clay-limestone soils rich in granite and basalt. The harvest is crushed and vinified in whole bunches. Aging in barrels is thirty months.

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Born in a farming family established in the commune of Saint-Sandoux (Puy-de-Dôme) for at least two centuries, Frédéric Gounan was first a mechanic and prototype designer for the French motorcycle brand Voxan, headquartered in Issoire. He turned away from the industrial world to devote himself to wine with his partner Caroline. He intends to take advantage of the magnificent terroirs of his native village, far from "pissing the vines", as was done in the past: he notes that everything that comes from this land has exceptional taste qualities. He takes over plots of Gamay d'Auvergne, plants other grape varieties, and ends up producing vintages that are among the tastiest and most sought-after in Auvergne. On this land of the Chaîne des Puys, Pinot Noirs grow on black basalt soils, Sauvignons and Pinot Gris rest on white clay-limestone soils pebbled with basalt. A follower of organic and biodynamic agriculture, Frédéric also applies methods that he considers appropriate to the climate and the terroir: to facilitate photosynthesis in this harsh and contrasting climate, he practices lyre trellising which allows the foliage of the vines to be aerated and exposed to the sun, guaranteeing ripe fruit at harvest. Always a mechanic at heart, he makes his tools and tinkers with his tractors according to his needs. His wines are rare and distinguished, highly sought after by connoisseurs: small estate (less than two hectares), small production (by volume, not by spirit).

Mercurey Les Vignes Blanches Red 2018,

Frédéric Cossard

Frédéric Cossard has created a superb expression of Mercurey, an emblematic appellation of the Côte Chalonnaise. Les Vignes Blanches 2018, made from Pinot Noir grown on clay-limestone soils, offers an intense and elegant interpretation of this Burgundian terroir. A natural, full-bodied, and ample wine that brilliantly combines power and finesse.

A sunny vintage and gentle vinification

2018 was a generous year in Burgundy, with ideal conditions for perfectly ripe grapes. True to his philosophy of zero-additive vinification, Frédéric Cossard uses whole-bunch maceration, thus preserving all the aromatic purity of the fruit. Aging takes place for one year in a concrete egg, promoting subtle micro-oxygenation and harmonious development of aromas without excessive wood degradation.

A tasting marked by depth and finesse

Les Vignes Blanches 2018 reveals a captivating nose where aromas of morello cherries, ripe black fruits and fine roasted notes. The palate is dense, with a full attack and a beautiful sap that gives it depth. The tannins are present but very fine, offering a beautiful length and a remarkable balance between structure and freshness. Food pairings and tasting moments This Mercurey is a gastronomic wine, perfect for roasted and grilled meats, roast duck, or a beautiful grilled rib-eye steak. It will also be a perfect accompaniment to a beef fillet in a crust or game birds. Served between 16 and 18°C, it can be enjoyed now for its vibrant fruit or aged for a few years to develop more complex notes.

Bourgogne Bedeau Rouge 2021

Fréderic Cossard
The nose is fresh, natural, and free, already evocative of tangy red fruits (morello cherry, plum, redcurrant). The Cossard style is fully present in this wine. Bedeau is a beautiful, delicious and refined Pinot Noir, bursting with fresh, tangy, and satiny fruit, plus a touch of cheekiness to enhance the overall effect. The palate is lively and voluminous, spicy, with velvety, well-integrated tannins. The harvest comes from plots of forty-year-old vines in and around Volnay, and from a plot of fifty-year-old vines in Nuits-Saint-Georges. All the soils are clay-limestone. The harvest macerates in whole bunches before aging in qvevri for 3 to 4 weeks, then a year in barrels.

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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 viticultural 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 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 ploughing 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. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and coveted wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Munjebel Rouge 2021

Frank Cornelissen
Rich, fragrant, with beautifully melted tannins and the smoothness of ripe fruit, Munjebel Rouge is a classic, classified as DOP Etna Rosso or IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. Among Frank Cornelissen's wines, this one best represents the typical character of the northern Etna valley. “A rich and fragrant wine of pure Nerello Mascalese,” explains Frank Cornelissen, “from different vineyards, partly from our best plots where we produce our crus (Zottorinoto-Chiusa Spagnolo, Feudo di Mezzo-Sottana and Porcaria) as well as from the vineyards designated for this specific wine (Rampante Sottana, Piano Daini and Crasà). Classic, traditional, with tannins and a sweetness of ripe fruit. My vision of a traditional, balanced and rich wine from the northern valley of Etna.” Munjebel red is a true bouquet of wild red fruits, aromatic and balanced, carrying all the crunch of ripe fruit, with a Pinot Noir side and a bright translucent color. It is vinified with indigenous yeasts, without additives or sulfites, unclarified and minimally filtered before bottling.

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A major figure and universally respected figure in natural wine, 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 accept "natural". They are good introductory wines.
His Sicilian azienda is located in Passopisciaro, in the north of the Etna valley. It is, he says, the "côte de Nuits" 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 mixed crop: olive trees, almond trees, vegetable gardens... (Frank also produces olive oil). The vines range in age from forty to over one hundred years. The nineteen plots, covering 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 produced in addition to the generic wines (rosé, basic red, and white). The soils are made of different types of basalt, between powder and rock, with perfect drainage that allows for concentrated and refined 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, allowing the vine to work the soil and capture its minerality in the fruit. Other grape varieties include: Nerello Cappuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Cattaratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante, etc.

Pet Nat White 2021

Domaine Einhart

We are proud to present the natural sparkling wine from Domaine Einhart, a true bouquet of Alsace grape varieties, floral and cheerful, yet based on a solid framework due to skin maceration: this gives a resolutely vinous, complex, and profound character to a type of wine (Pet Nat) better known for its light, fruity, and airy notes. This makes it a rather paradoxical vintage, a firmly planted orange wine, but with added bubbles—light and joyful bubbles that do nothing to diminish the paradox. This is a festive wine, yet very mineral, very earthy, which has many strings to its bow and is not reserved for festivities: it demands to be savored on its own and especially at the table. At 12.5% ABV, it is composed of Sylvaner, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris, entirely from the estate, harvested by hand. The vines, averaging thirty years old, grow on the muschelkalk soils of the Weingarten and Oberer Altenberg sites. Vinification begins with destemming, followed by a four-day maceration with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged in bottles, on slats, for ten months before disgorging. Serve chilled.

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Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family property whose vines are found on the hillsides rising between the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, i.e. shell limestone and oolitic limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone). Since 1990, Nicolas Einhart has been at the helm, now assisted by his son Théo. True to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is a co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without additives, refusing harmful phytosanitary products, and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer, he is firmly focused on skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a Pinot Noir red. Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the grapes, light punching down and delicate pressing are characteristic of the estate, as well as the separate vinification of each terroir, aging on lees and the absence of filtration before bottling. The wines are pure grape, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of the very beautiful terroirs of the Vosges foothills.

Cinsault Cuve n°5 Rouge 2020,

Fond Cyprès
Integrated, straightforward, rich, and intense, very fragrant, fresh and fluid, with a full and superb fruitiness. All the character and purity of Cinsault, a noble red grape variety from the Great South. Notes of cherry, ripe plum, and sweet spices, a delicate structure and refreshing acidity. This beautiful wine for laying down was initially offered only in magnums and is now available in 75 cl bottles: enjoy it.

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This Corbières estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already had a clear objective: "to produce southern wines that reflect us, wines with character, attached to our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They wanted to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the heart of the old Corbières massif, they took over an old heart of an estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache, which had seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean and living soils were an ideal condition for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. Vinification is carried out without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first assessed by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. The wines of Fond Cyprès poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: the pine forests, the shady 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, the wines of Fond Cyprès reflect the South of France: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.