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The genesis of wine is often traced back to the seventh millennium BCE, in the Caucasus, where wine was aged in qvevris (or kvrevris), large jars of 3500 liters buried in the ground. Traditionally, wine has always been what we now consider organic, but the term "organic wine" appeared at the end of the 20th century, in reaction to the hyper-industrialization of wine. Indeed, it was in a context of wine globalization after the Second World War that wine production began to flood the global market with wines full of additives and synthetic chemicals to achieve higher yields and more standardized production, known as conventional wine. Organic wine is therefore a logical response to conventional wine; it aims to be more environmentally friendly and adheres to strict specifications governing wine production.
Organic wine is therefore a wine (red wine, white wine, rosé wine, orange wine, sparkling wine) made from organic farming. Organic wine first met the European specifications of 1991, which governed the principles of organic farming only in the vineyard. It was not until 2012 that new European specifications were published, this time stipulating organic farming regulations also in the cellar.
As mentioned above, wine from organic farming has theoretically always existed, but it is only since 2012 that it has been regulated and controlled by strict specifications in both the vineyard and the cellar. To summarize its obligations, organic wine must be made from certified organic grapes, as well as the sugar, must, or alcohol used during chaptalization and mutage. Also, its specifications prohibit certain winemaking practices such as de-alcoholization, electrodialysis, or thermovinification. The European Union also mandates a sulfite level 50 milligrams per liter lower than conventional wines, i.e., a maximum of 100 milligrams per liter for organic red wines and a maximum of 150 milligrams per liter for organic white wines.
The organic sector is booming, representing nearly 10% of global vineyard area in 2021 with growth of +3.2% compared to 2020 and +78% in 10 years. France is a leader in this field, hosting nearly a third of the world's organic vineyards, followed by its Italian and Spanish neighbors. But organic farming is not only beneficial for the environment; it is also a driver of social well-being. According to a study by Riccardo Vecchio, the organic wine industry creates 50% more jobs than the conventional wine industry, offering more stable jobs with a third of certified farms employing one or more permanent employees, compared to one in five for uncertified farms.
What are the different organic labels recognized in France?
It is INAO that delegates organic farming control and certification activities to independent and approved certification bodies, including Agrocert, Bureau Veritas Certification France, Certipaq bio, Certis, Certisud, Ecocert, Qualisud, Bureau Alpes Contrôles. Every year, certified vineyards are audited by one of these bodies, and in case of irregularity, a unique catalog of measures is applied. A label project to identify farms in the conversion phase (over one or more years) is also under study.
However, for some winemakers, the AB label is too flexible and allows for farming that claims to be organic but has some industrial deviations, notably with the support of large retailers who are trying to seize these new market opportunities. Therefore, two new labels have emerged: Nature & Progrès and Bio Cohérence have stricter specifications, including a ban on sales through mass distribution channels, a measure whose implementation aims to promote short supply chains.
It should be noted that there are many other labels categorizing organic wines that have stricter specifications. Demeter and Biodyvin regulate biodynamic wines or wines from biodynamic winemaking, an esoteric viticulture that considers the vine as a living ecosystem with more rigorous legislation on operations carried out in the cellar. Stricter than biodynamics (or biodynamic wine), the Vin Méthode Nature label proposes a charter for natural wine with an emphasis on low addition of sulfites in the wine and the use of indigenous yeasts. Terra Vitis and Haute Valeur Environnementale are two labels that promote sustainable development, through the preservation of biodiversity, phytosanitary strategies, and fertilization and irrigation management.
Finally, it should also be remembered that many winemakers refuse to be categorized under any label because it would mean denying the principle of the agricultural counter-model: emancipating oneself from standardized norms, not fitting into boxes. This can be seen as a way for the winemaker to assert themselves as unique and with a strong identity.
How is consuming organic wine better for the environment?
One of the great strengths of organic winemakers is their ability to bring life back to the soil and the surrounding flora and fauna. In France, viticulture accounts for 20% of agricultural pesticide use, compared to only 3% of agricultural land. Organic viticulture therefore emerges as an ecological hope: little to no use of phytosanitary products, recourse to organic fertilizers and compost, a reduction of up to one-third of CO2 emissions compared to conventional wine. With better respect for the vine, there is on the one hand a rebirth of the soil, which slows down erosion and promotes subterranean flora and fauna, and on the other hand, a rebirth of pollinators (bees, butterflies...) thanks to an increasing presence of life between the vines (hedges, wild plants, shrubs...).
Organic viticulture also allows for better water management, notably with less water stress (more organic matter in the soil allows for better water retention) and especially less artificial irrigation (the resilience of the vine is preferred). Each cuvée, each vintage, each bottle, in short, each wine from organic farming is therefore directly influenced by climatic hazards, which makes it possible to produce a wine (red wine, white wine, rosé wine, orange wine, sparkling wine) with its own distinct and marked personality.
How is consuming organic wine better for health?
No one can deny that alcohol, and therefore wine, is dangerous for health and should be consumed in moderation. Nevertheless, where conventional wine may contain pesticide residues, additives, and chemicals, organic wine reduces the presence of these harmful substances. It is also full of living bacteria and yeasts that can have benefits for the microbiota, including improved blood vessel function, improved protection of brain cells against cognitive damage, reduced risk of certain types of cancer (especially breast cancer), and better digestion thanks to the production of digestive enzymes stimulated by wine.
Another undeniable health benefit of organic wine is the reduction of sulfites, preservatives widely used in conventional wine to stabilize it. For an equivalent amount consumed, an organic wine will cause fewer headaches the next day than a conventional wine!
What are the advantages of organic farming for winemakers?
When we talk about organic wine, we often think about the health of our planet or our body, but we think much less about the health of our winemakers. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to observe cases of cancer or respiratory problems among winegrowers, due to synthetic chemicals used such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers. Conversely, organic wine aims to drastically reduce these substances, so organic viticulture is beneficial for those who work the vines daily.
Although organic farming requires more physical and organizational effort, it exposes winemakers to significantly fewer toxic products. The use of alternative methods is also beneficial from a psychological point of view, as some producers state that the quality of the organic wine produced offers and brings a deep meaning to their profession, and according to a virtuous circle, this helps maintain a respectful, attentive, and intuitive relationship with their wine work.
But organic farming is also synonymous with short supply chains and therefore support for local economies with a win-win situation for all: the consumer has full traceability of the bottles consumed, and the producer has an income that better reflects the reality of their work. A virtuous system is thus created where the winemaker has more financial resources, allowing them to experiment with new things (new grape varieties, for example) and thus increase consumer satisfaction.
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1075 products
Pierra Menta White 2022
Pierra Menta is an exceptional organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine from Savoie made by Jean-Yves Péron. Classified as a Vin de France, Pierra Menta is made from the Gringet grape variety. The winemaker plans to plant more vines of this ancient variety until he reaches half a hectare.
Vinification
Gringet, which makes up 100% of Pierra Menta, is a white grape variety native to Haute-Savoie, historically linked to the commune of Ayse, near Bonneville. Jean-Yves Péron's vines are planted near Albertville, on a south-facing mica-schist plot. Gringet has long been confined to the Bonneville region and traditionally produces low-proof, high-yield sparkling wines. It is an interesting, fruity, low-alcohol grape variety with notes of quince and strong minerality. Pierra Menta's gringets are macerated for two weeks in carbonic acid, then punched down for two months, and aged for one year in 300-liter barrels.
Tasting
The quince is evident from the initial olfactory and taste, and the minerality supports this note. White fruits, florality, plenty of structure, and a nice acidity. An incredible length, too... We thank Jean-Yves for this and move on to the food and wine pairings: fish, seafood, oysters and Middle Eastern cuisine.
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 the 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 and steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, do not receive any synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. 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.
Les Œillets Amphore White 2022
Les Œillets Amphore is a dry macerated white wine produced in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron. Organic, biodynamic, and natural, it is a 100% Jacquère white, with no additives or added sulfites, classified as a Vin de France.
Vinification
Les Œillets comes from the same terroir as La Petite Robe (the clay-limestone soils of the lieu-dit Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier), but it is harvested later to achieve greater phenolic maturity and a higher tannin concentration. Carbonic maceration for four or five days is followed by a month of punching down in vats. At least one year of aging in terracotta amphorae.
Tasting
With a beautiful minerality and a tension polished by the time spent in terracotta, Les Œillets Amphore by Jean-Yves Péron is an atypical white, with powerful aromatic notes without any trace of wood. Lots of fruit and candied citrus. Les Œillets has chewiness, texture, a tannic mouthfeel and a note of controlled oxidation. The tension is strong, balanced by a note of apricot. You will pair him with all your best dishes.
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 the 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 surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. 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 in Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his winemaking and aging experiences.
TP Trepat Red 2021
Partida Creus
Made from Trepat, an ancient native Catalan grape variety, this red wine, classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), offers plenty of freshness with notes of red and black fruits (plum, pomegranate, cherry, raspberry), Mediterranean herbs, and well-integrated tannins, with touches of leather and a supple texture. On the palate, it is lively, light, and balanced, with suppleness. It allows for a very wide range of flavor pairings.
Find out more
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, 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.
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.
VNR Vinel lo Ancestral Sparkling Red 2019
Partida Creus
The beautiful light ruby color of VN Vinel lo Ancestral is already tempting, and its low alcohol content (10.5%) is ideal for long aperitifs and large, chilled meals. Sparkling, fruity, and very fresh, with floral and yeasty notes, and a very long finish. Easy to drink, gurgling but with great distinction, VN Vinel·lo Ancestral is a natural sparkling red resulting from a rich and abundant blend of indigenous grape varieties: first Sumoll and Trepat in dominance, followed by Se Samsó (Cinsault), Garrut (Mourvèdre), Ull de Perdiu, Queixal de Llop and Grenache Noir, harvested on predominantly limestone soils. The blend is subject to variation depending on the vintage. After crushing, the musts of the different grape varieties ferment one after the other and are added gradually, thus prolonging the fermentation by indigenous yeasts. The fermentation finishes in the bottle, for ten months, on fine lees. No filtration, no additives, no added sulfites.
Find out more
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-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 cries of satisfaction.
Frédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmottes Red 2020
14300
€143,00
Unit price perFrédéric Cossard - Domaine de Chassorney
Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmottes Red 2020
14300
€143,00
Unit price perNuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmottes Red 2020,
Frédéric Cossard
This Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charmottes 2020, by Frédéric Cossard, is a vibrant and natural expression of this prestigious appellation from the Côte de Nuits. Produced using unpretentious vinification, it reveals exceptional aromatic depth, combining floral finesse and fruity intensity.
The Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC, an exceptional terroir
Renowned for its structured and expressive wines, the Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC offers powerful and distinguished reds with long aging potential. The Charmottes plot, located on deep clay-limestone soils, gives this wine a beautiful concentration and a satiny feel. In the old Burgundian dialect, "charmottes" or "charmes" refers to formerly fallow lands, now enhanced by the meticulous work of Frédéric Cossard.
A natural and elegant Pinot Noir
This 2020 vintage, produced through a whole-bunch maceration, expresses a captivating floral nose, blending peony and violet, before giving way to an explosion of fruit black like blackberry and blackcurrant. On the palate, the body is silky and supple, with tannins of rare elegance and a lingering finish marked by a subtle minerality.
A wine of character, to enjoy now or to keep
With its balanced structure and its aging potential of 5 to 10 years, this Nuits-Saint-Georges can be enjoyed young, for the purity of its fruit, or after a few years, for a more complex and refined expression. Serve between 16 and 18°C, it will perfectly accompany a grilled prime rib, duck breast with red fruits or game in sauce. A great Burgundy wine, in a natural and masterful interpretation.
Sumoll Red 2019,
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.
Trepat Red 2019,
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.
The tannins have pride of place in this 100% Trepat red wine (a traditional Catalan grape variety); they assert themselves from the attack with a crisp acidity. Rustic and fruity, invigorating, almost a gurgle (it needs a little time and rest to become fully so). The grapes grow on a clay-limestone plot in Prenafeta (municipality of La Conca de Barberà) and the vines are two years old. The altitude is 400 meters. The harvest, hand-picked, is crushed and then macerated for twelve days on the skins and stalks, with punching down every two days. A second, very gentle crushing precedes the second phase of fermentation in stainless steel vats.
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.
French Single Malt Whisky Coperies
Coperies is a 100% French single malt whisky from a single distillery, the venerable Merlet & Fils distillery, in Charente-Maritime. It bears the mark of its region even in its name: "copieries" is a very old word meaning "harvest" in old Charente. This appellation refers to the French identity of this beverage—all the ingredients of which are French—but also, beyond that, to its specifically Charente roots. The barley from which it is made is grown, malted, and brewed in France before being distilled and aged at the Merlet & Fils distillery. Son.
Its development is the fruit of centuries-old expertise, used for the production of the most prestigious wine spirits and applied here to cereals. The first step is double-pass distillation, in Charentais copper stills, which produces round and elegant malt spirits. The aging takes place in French oak barrels, maintaining a balance between new and old barrels in order to modulate the contribution of wood and toasting: this produces subtle spicy notes and silky tannins. The whisky is surprising, remarkable for the sweetness and roundness of its accents. It is floral, fruity, and of unparalleled finesse. The nose first reveals a very discreet vanilla and a light touch of caramel. On the palate, it is the smooth and fluid texture that surprises, all in suppleness: no alcoholic burn hinders the sweet, aromatic, and delicately spiced notes of this whisky. The purity of single malt is very apparent. It will be wonderful neat, with an ice cube that will bring out its tenderness, and can also lend itself to the preparation of cocktails. It is, we specify, an excellent way to enter the world of whisky for those who are not used to this beverage: it will not be aggressive and will provide them with a gentle initiation.
Pure malt, first peat, organic malted barley brandy, Ergaster Distillery
This is Ergaster's peated whisky, aged for eighteen months in new French oak barrels and then in reused barrels containing equal proportions of Banyuls, Cognac, and Pineau des Charentes. The nose is floral and musky, finishing with a mineral and earthy note. The attack is sweet, smoky, and saline, well-structured, then gives way to leather, cocoa bean, and a hint of prune. The finish is warm and woody, leaving aromas of toasted almonds on the palate. Those who love peat will love it, those who have never tried it can learn.
Vagabond Red 2022
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.
Nature first, nature always
The terroir of Pierre Dorées
Fleckstein White 2021
Do you like Riesling? Do you love Alsace Riesling? You'll succumb to the temptation of Fleckstein, a pure, charming, mineral, and crystalline wine, 100% Riesling, with an alcohol content of 13.5%. All the grapes come from the Einhart estate and are grown on the great limestone terroir of the Rosheim hillsides, in the Fleckstein area, on a ferruginous vein located 1.5 meters deep and a layer of loess that retains a lot of freshness and limestone purity in this wine, whose horizontal acidity is typical of Middle Triassic muschelkalk. The plots, inclined at 10%, are south-east facing and the average age of the vines is forty years. The harvest is worked by direct pressing and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The aging is one year on total lees in Alsatian foudre (barrels of approximately one thousand liters). We recommend decanting this Fleckstein so that it expresses all its vitality.
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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 located on the hillsides that rise 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 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 [link], 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 of the cap, 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 made from pure grapes, lively, powerful, invigorating, and reflect the minerality of the beautiful terroirs of the Vosges foothills.
Les Orgues Rouge 2019,
Frédéric Gounan
Fruit, minerality, straightforwardness, clean and flavorful red fruits: the volcanic and mineral expression of basalt soils through 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. This wine calls for traditional hearty dishes, stews, soups with Fourme d'Ambert, pountis or sausages in brioche.
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Coming from a family of farmers established in the commune of Saint-Sandoux (Puy-de-Dôme) for at least two centuries, Frédéric Gounan was in his first life a mechanic and prototype creator for the French motorcycle brand Voxan, whose headquarters were 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 took over plots of Gamay from Auvergne, planted other grape varieties, and ended 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, while Sauvignons and Pinot Gris grow on white clay-limestone soils with basalt pebbles. A fan of organic and biodynamic farming, Frédéric also applies methods that he considers appropriate to the climate and terroir: to facilitate photosynthesis in this harsh and contrasting climate, he practices lyre trellising, which allows the vines' foliage 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. Its wines are rare and distinguished, highly sought after by connoisseurs: small estate (less than two hectares), small production (by volume, not by spirit).
Farmhouse Cider 2020,
This 2020 vintage farmhouse cider from Florian Bourrienne still bears the sweetness of its youth, but it is perfectly ripe for drinking. It already offers ample, evolved, and roundly fruity notes, which are the distinctive mark of this producer. You can let it age for at least another four or five years; it will gradually acquire airier, even fuller, and more vegetal notes evoking hay, flowers, and meadow, as well as flavors of ripe candied apple that we love to find in Florian's farmhouse ciders. The bubble is soft and fine, the aromatic palette asks to unfold, and in this regard, we advise you to decant this cider. Its faithful companions will be fresh, smoked or dried seafood, cooked, as well as charcuterie cooked the old-fashioned way and buckwheat pancakes.
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What mainly differentiates Florian Bourrienne from other cider producers is that he makes ciders for laying down, intended to evolve over the years. His orchard is in the heart of Calvados, in the Pays d'Auge, but outside the AOC in order to preserve the freedom and singularity of his ciders. We can speak, without hesitation, of natural cider, because the cider maker goes beyond organic to respect the traditional production method, delicate, patient and demanding enormous work. From his fifteen-hectare orchard planted with tall stems, he produces ciders for ageing, excellent to drink in their youth but sumptuous after several years. The blend is carefully measured according to the characteristics of each vintage. The fruit production is entirely organic and the fermentation processes—there are two for traditional cider—are slow and patient, so that the cider is made in the right way, using natural yeasts. These are preserved in the cider thanks to a light filtration that respects all the living elements capable of polishing the taste and aromas, but also facilitates the formation of foam, which must be just right: neither too strong nor too weak. It's difficult to manage, but the result is well worth it. These are mastered ciders, eminently delicious, marked by an extraordinary sweetness and roundness of apple. Over time, they acquire notes of acidity and astringency that gracefully reinforce their beautiful aromatic palette. Ciders of taste and pleasure, as delicious at the table as as an aperitif.
Le Litre Arbitre White 2020,
Le Litre Arbitre, a dry white wine with a strong aroma of white fruit and lemon, is deliciously mineral and lively, perfect for all occasions and also a joy to drink on its own. It's so perfect for gatherings with good friends that Château Lafitte decided to pour it directly into a one-liter bottle. The beverage is obtained by directly pressing different grape varieties from a very old, planted plot whose birth date is unknown. The blend includes the classic Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng grapes from the Jurançon terroir. The harvest is done among friends, the viticulture and winemaking (100% biodynamic) are done without the slightest addition of chemicals or sulfites. Fruity as desired, designed for the most intense conviviality, and not even a pinhead of added sulfites. This wine will keep for a very long time if given the chance.
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Château Lafitte is located in Béarn, on the noble terroir of Jurançon, the origin of superb sweet wines and dry wines that have nothing to envy. Since the 14th century, Monein, the commune where the estate is located, has been nestled in an exceptional natural, rich and hilly environment. In the 16th century, vines already occupied a significant part of the property, and they have persisted to this day. Philippe and Brigitte Arraou, the current owners, have undertaken to revive viticulture on the site, assisted since 2012 by their son Antoine, a winemaker as passionate as his parents. Château Lafitte is now managed biodynamically and with agroforestry: five hectares of marl-limestone soils typical of the appellation, on a hilly terrain that can become very cold in winter. The king grape varieties of Jurançon, Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng, represent the majority of the grape varieties. Also typical of Jurançon and the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in general, viticulture en hautains, that is to say raised and trained very high, is practiced. As it was in many primitive vineyards, some of which are still active (Portugal, Spain, Georgia, etc.). On this beautiful estate, winemaking experiments are legion: aging in terracotta jars for dry wines, solera for sweet wines in untopped barrels, photovoltaic roofs for the cellar, rainwater harvesting, gravity-fed vinification. Château Lafitte produces sweet Jurançons as well as still dry wines and a very successful natural sparkling wine, Funambule.
Fond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
The Syrah of the Red Pine 2020
1790
€17,90
Unit price perFond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
The Syrah of the Red Pine 2020
1790
€17,90
Unit price perLa Syrah de la Pinède Rouge 2020,
Fond Cyprès
Dense, full-bodied, and generous, this Syrah is ready to drink but can still wait. It carries the freshness and shade of its forest environment and a certain gravity that is not uncommon in Corbières wines based on this type of blend. It features notes of garrigue and Mediterranean herbs. Coming from a plot of young vines (between sixteen and twenty years old) exposed to the north and the northwest wind, bordered by pines and cypresses that protect and refresh it, the Syrah harvest used to make this wine is destemmed, gently extracted, fermented in concrete vats, and the wine is aged for one year in old barrels. It is a true wine of the South, born of the sun and a faithful reflection of the earth.
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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 wines from the South that reflect us, wines of 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.
Oolithe white 2020
Domaine Einhart
Oolithe, a macerated white wine, has a pale apricot color and exudes a beautiful minerality, great freshness, and the integrity of its predominant grape variety, Sylvaner. Aromas of fresh apple enhance it. The second nose opens more fully with elderflower, lily of the valley, and citrus peel. On the palate, the attack is lively, fresh, and mineral, leading to a spicy and persistent finish. The name Oolithe is a direct allusion to the oolitic limestone that makes up the muschelkalk soil from which it is sourced (plots located in Weingarten and Oberer Altenberg). On this soil grow Sylvaner and Gewurztraminer, the two grape varieties that make up this wine, at 60 percent and 40 percent respectively. The average age of the vines is thirty years. The harvest is manual, destemmed, and the brief maceration, on indigenous yeasts, takes place for four days. The wine is aged on fine lees, in stainless steel vats, before being bottled without filtration. From the vine to the cellar, this wine was made without any additives. Decanting is recommended so that it fully expresses all its floral grace.
To find out more
Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family property whose vines are located on the hillsides that rise between the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, i.e. shell limestone and oolite 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 co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, winemaking without inputs, refusing harmful phytosanitary products and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer, he is resolutely moving towards skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a Pinot Noir red. Entirely manual harvesting, destemming of the bunches, 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.
Pinot Noir 2020,
Domaine Einhart
A velvety, ripe red, 100% Pinot Noir, with an intense, fragrant, and gently fruity aroma. The deep, purplish color evokes black cherry. The initial nose is enhanced by aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry) with a hint of freshness blended into a light vanilla woodiness. The second nose is more open, with aromas of blood orange, bitter almond, and kirsch. On the palate, the berries are still present, supported by present but well-melted tannins, and lead to a velvety finish resting on a lovely freshness. Plenty of persistence and length. The Pinot Noirs from which it is made, aged around thirty years, grow on the muschelkalk (shell limestone) terroirs of Dittelsberg-Albermohn and are harvested by hand, then destemmed. Maceration, using indigenous yeasts, takes between ten and twelve days. Aging for one year on fine lees, in demi-muids, precedes bottling without filtration. From the vine to the cellar, this wine was made without any additives. Decanting is recommended so that it can fully express its finesse and grace.
To find out more
Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family estate whose vines are located on the hillsides that rise between the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, i.e. shell limestone and oolite 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 co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to the protection of the land and biodiversity, winemaking without inputs, the refusal of harmful phytosanitary products and the maintenance of ecological refuge zones. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer, he is resolutely moving towards skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a Pinot Noir red. Entirely manual harvesting, destemming of the bunches, 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.
