Red meat

Munjebel MC Red 2020

Cornelissen
Munjebel MC, an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine from Sicily, is produced by Frank Cornelissen. It is classified DOP (PDO) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Contrada Monte Colla, a very steep terraced plot, beautifully exposed to the sun and wind, directly opposite Mount Etna. The Nerello Mascalese vines, planted in 1946, grow on sandy-clay soil.

Vinification
The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
Rich and powerful, with elegance, Munjebel MC is a bit like the hermitage of Etna. Intense color of a deep and saturated red, notes of red rose and wild red fruits. Body, richness and thickness, aromatic palate supported by a fresh acidity. You will pair it with red meats and Mediterranean dishes. Try a Bigorre black ham or a grilled or roasted wagyu from Maison Aitana.

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

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

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

Mercurey - Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2021

Fréderic Cossard

Fresh, wild, and intense, this Mercurey is definitely a pleasure to drink with abandon. Morello cherries, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, and complexity on the nose give way to floral, then mineral and roasted notes. On the palate, there is plenty of fruit, sap, fullness, and density, with silky, melted tannins of great finesse, completely devoid of harshness. A long, fruity, and distinguished finish. Les Vignes Blanches is a Mercurey vineyard where Frédéric Cossard is producing his third vintage. For the occasion, the winemaker vinified and aged it in qvevri (a Georgian-style buried jar), which gives it a patina, rounds it out, and accentuates its velvety texture and depth. Perfect for entrecôte, filet of beef en croûte, and roast duck.

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 for some time as a wine broker 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, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc, and elsewhere. At his farm, the soil and vines are worked as naturally as possible: regular horse-drawn ploughing, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended 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. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

Je t'ai dans la peau White, 2018

Nicolas Chemarin

Deep, earthy, and extremely complex, this orange wine has a beautiful old gold color and delicately oxidative notes of walnut and hazelnut, leading to an exotic fruity palette. Plenty of character and considerable promise for its evolution. As its name suggests, Je t'ai dans la peau is all about the skin. Grape skin, of course, since it's a macerated white, an experiment Nicolas has carried out with various nuances since 2009 to create wines with a strong personality. The goal is not to obtain exuberant orange wines like those from Italy or the South, but rather controlled macerations with fruit and depth. The harvest comes from the same plot as P’tit Grobis blanc: all Chardonnay of course, on stony granite soils. The 2017 vintage is made using pure maceration. This is short: five to seven days. Aging is three years in barrels. A superb balance to savor, to be classified without hesitation in the category of crazy Beaujolais.

To find out more
Nicolas Chemarin, nicknamed P’tit Grobis as a resident of Marchampt (Beaujolais), is the fourth generation of winemaker on his family vineyard in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on stony land where he crafts wines of surprising depth and sincerity. In 2005, he took over two hectares of his father's vines and in 2006, he produced his first vintages. In 2008, he acquired other vines and decided to devote himself solely to his estate, whose very steep terroir consists of poor, rocky soils on gray granite rock. The vines rest on the bedrock through very thin soil, and their roots plunge deep into the rock. Depending on the configuration of the soil, the vines are pruned in goblet form or raised on stakes. Their average age is eighty years. The grape varieties, Gamay and Chardonnay, are classically Beaujolais. Nicolas also cultivates two other terroirs in the Régnié appellation: Les Bullats, with light, filtering sandy soils, and La Haute Ronze, very close to Morgon, whose deeper, clayey soils produce full-bodied wines. The wines undergo long macerations (from 18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control (Nicolas works cold, around 20 °C). The aging is partially done in thermoregulated concrete vats for a third, the remaining two thirds being spent in barrels of four to ten wines in order to provide oxygenation but little or no woody sensation. Nicolas Chemarin is already well known in the natural world for his sweet and fruity vintages, wines for pleasure, and for vintages from difficult and magnificent terroirs, endowed with admirable and complex mineral, aromatic and spicy notes.

Rose Rosé 2017

Domaine Ruth Lewandowski
This simply named rosé comes from two exceptional plots: Matthew Rorick's vineyard in Calaveras, California, a very steep, high-altitude vineyard whose high-quality soils provide the Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) used in this blend. The other, Fox Hill Vineyard, nurtured the Portuguese grape varieties (Souzão and Touriga Nacional) that make up the rest. These fleshy, sappy, and tannic grapes, combined with the Tinta Roriz, allowed Ruth to create a rosé wine that redefines the conventional image of this type of wine: deep, earthy, and structured.

A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Es d'aqui Cinsauriel Red 2017

Jean Louis Pinto

This 100% Cinsault, grown on schist soils near Saint-Chinian, is produced by fermentation with indigenous yeasts during twenty-eight days of whole-bunch maceration. Part of the wine is aged in steel vats. With a beautiful, vibrant ruby color, it offers a nose of pepper, rose, and strawberry, as well as notes of garrigue, candied black olive, and prune. Lively and powerful.

Westerberg Blanc 2023,

Domaine Einhart

The subtle and mouth-watering expression of a unique terroir
The Westerberg 2023, produced by Domaine Einhart, is a highly expressive cuvée that combines Gewurztraminer and Riesling, two emblematic grape varieties of Alsace. Produced from vines planted on a terroir of limestone silt, this cuvée draws its unique character from a meticulous 11-month maturation in foudres, which amplifies its complexity while preserving its freshness.

An intense and elegant tasting
On the nose, the Westerberg 2023 reveals a striking aromatic richness: notes of candied apricot, juicy pear and jasmine blend harmoniously with touches of mango and citrus. On the palate, this wine displays a supple and velvety texture, balanced by a marked mineral freshness. The vibrant acidity brings a beautiful salivation, while the long and persistent finish highlights brioche and slightly buttery nuances. This contrast between breadth and liveliness makes this wine a true sensory journey.

Refined pairings for a varied gastronomy
The richness and finesse of the Westerberg 2023 make it a perfect ally for the table. It enhances grilled fish dishes, seafood, or even roast poultry. It also pairs well with Mediterranean and Asian cuisines, where its exotic aromas and ample structure will find a beautiful echo. Finally, it pairs elegantly with mature cheeses and fruit desserts, such as an apricot tart or a citrus mousse.

Serve between 6 and 8°C after decanting, this wine is ready to be enjoyed now, but will also evolve magnificently in the cellar for at least 5 years.

Back to Blaye (cuvée exclusive), Rouge 2023

Château Frédignac

Un clin d’œil rétro pour un vin résolument ancré dans le présent : « Back to Blaye » incarne une nouvelle génération de Bordeaux rouges naturels, issus d’un travail précis à la vigne comme au chai. Le Château Frédignac, pionnier d’une viticulture propre et engagée dans l’appellation Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux, signe ici une cuvée exclusive 2023, à la fois expressive et digeste.

Un terroir valorisé, un savoir-faire engagé

Plantés sur des sols argilo-calcaires typiques du secteur de Blaye, les cépages Merlot (65 %), Malbec (25 %) et Cabernet Sauvignon (10 %) sont cultivés selon les principes de l’agriculture biologique (certifié AB & Nature & Progrès). La vinification reste fidèle à l’esprit nature : macération égrappée de deux semaines, sans intervention œnologique ni levures exogènes, puis élevage en cuves béton pour préserver l’éclat du fruit.

Un rouge vivant et généreux

Au nez, le vin libère des arômes de fruits noirs mûrs, d’herbes fraîches et d’épices douces. En bouche, l’attaque est souple, les tanins présents mais bien intégrés, soutenus par une belle fraîcheur. Le vin gagne en intensité au fil de la dégustation, avec une matière ronde et équilibrée.

À partager dès aujourd’hui ou à oublier un peu…

Back to Blaye se déguste dès maintenant, légèrement rafraîchi (14-16°C), sur une belle assiette de charcuteries, une pièce de viande rouge ou un plat de cuisine familiale. Pas besoin de carafe : ouvrez, respirez, savourez ! Ce vin peut aussi s’épanouir en cave pendant 5 ans.

Yggdrasil Red 2015

Domaine La Sorga

Yggdrasil is a blend of Merlot grown organically on limestone sands in the Carcassonne region. The grapes are vinified in whole bunches and infused for ninety days; the wine is then aged in vats on its lees for eleven months. The result is a fresh and long wine with notes of black fruits, thyme, and cinnamon, perfect for pairing with red meats or game. Aging potential: ten years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Art Brut Red 2023,

La Tribu Alonso

A vibrant, hybrid, and bold red, born from the granite terroir of Beaujolais

The Art Brut 2023, produced by La Tribu Alonso, is an atypical and captivating cuvée. This red wine is distinguished by its exceptional ampelographic diversity, bringing together a mosaic of grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Syrah, enriched with a touch of white grapes. Produced on granite soils, it reflects an artisanal and innovative philosophy that celebrates biodiversity and the terroir.

Vinified with a short maceration to extract finesse and freshness, then aged for a year in vats, this wine reveals a natural and sincere approach, without artifice.

An intense and original tasting

On the nose, the Art Brut 2023 charms with its aromas of black cherry, kirsch and leather, with subtle nuances of pepper and spices. On the palate, it offers a frank and invigorating attack, supported by a supple texture and a beautiful freshness. The delicate and melted tannins highlight flavors of ripe red fruits and spicy notes that persist in a long and harmonious finish.

Rich and varied pairings

This versatile wine is ideal for accompanying convivial moments as well as gourmet meals. It pairs perfectly with grilled white meats, poultry stew or roasted red meats. Its freshness and spicy character also make it a perfect choice for stewed or lightly spiced dishes.

Serve between 14 and 16°C, without decanting necessary, the Art Brut 2023 can be enjoyed today for its freshness or kept for up to 5 years, where it will gain in complexity.

Paoudou Red 2022,

Danis dans la vigne

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

Vinification

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

Tasting

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

Learn more about Danis dans la vigne

Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, the Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1980s.

Organic and natural since 1983

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

Malbec, but not only

Malbec reigns supreme in the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot, and recently created grape varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Colombard as single-varietals. These experiments allow him to moderate the density and opacity of the main grape variety.

Gevrey Chambertin les Genevrières Qvevris Red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

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

Vinification

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

Tasting

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

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give the floor in organic and natural mode to the wines of Burgundy (and elsewhere), undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, its wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and creative.

Between viticulture and trade

Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature

At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, biodynamics, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The harvest, by hand, is carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after, wines that are always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

Cuvée Carignan Red 2022

Fréderic Cossard

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

Vinification

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

Tasting

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

Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney

Frédéric Cossard and the domaine de Chassorney give a voice in organic and natural ways to the terroirs and wines of Burgundy and elsewhere, undistorted by agricultural chemicals, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever his grapes come from, his wines bear the Cossard brand, both classic and innovative.

Between viticulture and trade

Frédéric Cossard created the domaine de Chassorney in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own trading house and buys organic grapes from the greatest climates of Burgundy, but also from Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere.

A solid commitment to nature

At Frédéric Cossard, the work of the soil and the vines is done naturally: plowing by horse, no chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended biodynamically, the harvest is manual, carried out at full maturity. Frédéric Cossard's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, always highly anticipated but which sometimes require waiting.

i Vicini Moscato White 2021

Jean Yves Peron

I Vicini Moscato is an organic, biodynamic, and natural macerated (orange) dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron. Vinified in Savoie from Muscat d'Asti. It is part of the I Vicini series of cuvées, vinified in Savoie from organic grapes from Northern Italy. The muscats grow on very fine limestone soils, calcareous-magnesian, on a particularly cool site.

Vinification

The Muscat d'Asti grapes, harvested manually at good phenolic maturity, macerate for three months in vats on the skins, with punching down. Racking off in January, aging for one year in 300 l barrels. No filtration, fining or addition of sulfites.

Tasting

Straightness, tension and freshness: this very fine mountain Muscat offers the aromatic and musky nose specific to the grape variety, without any syrupy notes. A very present tannic structure balances the whole. On the palate, it is rich and powerful; we find the charming scent of Muscat in the retro-olfaction, but with the tension and freshness that Jean-Yves Péron favors for his dry whites. It’s a great table wine, not really for an aperitif, but for gastronomy, no limits.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron

Jean-Yves Péron skillfully embodies 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. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semicarbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then sent 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.

Terre Mere Red 2021,

Clos des B

Equipped with the Écocert organic label, Terre Mère is a natural red wine, with no added sulfites, from the Clos des B estate, located in the Bay of Saint-Tropez. Red and especially black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry) abound on the nose and palate. The wine is structured and tannic, but the tannins are supple and well-integrated, and the finish includes a very seductive note of bitter almond. It resembles an Amarone, but without the cooking note, with much more fresh fruit and freshness despite its overripeness. Terre Mère presents a beautiful liveliness upon opening, but we do not recommend decanting. It gains dimension and breadth at the end of the bottle. It comes from the finest grapes, plot by plot and vine by vine, which have been isolated vine by vine to be brought to this overripeness.

Why “Mother Earth”?

The name Mother Earth is a tribute, through the terroir, to Pacha Mama, the great earthly divinity. One clearly perceives through the tasting the producer’s desire to stick to the terroir, to extract its quintessence, in addition to the resolution to add no input to the vineyard or the cellar. This mature and evolved typicity (15% alcohol) results from particular winemaking methods: Mother Earth, a red wine in AOP Côtes-de-Provence, is composed of 50% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 30% Mourvèdre harvested overripe in September. Vinification is carried out 90% in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and 10% in open barrels. Foot-punching is performed, as well as a few small pumping overs. Malolactic fermentation is complete. The wine is aged in 600-liter barrels and in 228-liter barrels previously used for several wines. No sulfites are added, neither in the vineyard, nor during vinification, nor at bottling. To discover other wines from the terroirs of Provence, also explore the Domaine des Grandes Serres, in the Southern Côtes-du-Rhône. And to accompany this beautiful wine, why not slice a beautiful sausage from Maison Montalet?

Learn more about Clos des B

Clos des B (initials of the two owners) is an organic and natural wine estate located in Grimaud, in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Gwendolyn Berger and Jean-Jacques Branger are the proud producers of the very first natural cuvées from this geographical area. Before the two Bs bought these three hectares of vines, all these wines went to the cooperative cellar of the Vignerons de Saint-Tropez. Driven by a "thirst for vines," as they say, Gwendolyn and Jean-Jacques overcame administrative difficulties, restored the vineyard, and soon produced reds, rosés, and even a blanc de noirs. Their grape varieties are typical of the region: Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, growing on schist sands crisscrossed by quartz veins. The property benefits from a microclimate that protects the vines from humidity, disease, and frost. The viticulture and winemaking approach resolutely embraces organic (the estate is under the Écocert label, applied for in 2020), biodynamics, and natural methods. The wines are made without added sulfites, fining, or filtration. The wines of Clos des B are a true reflection of their terroir and climate: fresh, fruity, and very pleasant to drink, beautiful natural wines from the terroir of Provence.

Ganache Red 2021,

Domaine de l'Octavin

A complex, innovative, and delicious wine, obtained after eight weeks of whole-bunch maceration. Bottling was done in June 2022. Ganache is not far from Grenache, that's it, you get the idea, and Gamay joins the fray. The famous southern grape variety, cultivated biodynamically and harvested in Carpentras (SCEA L’Authentique by Claude Ughetto), vinified in the Jura, doesn’t feel out of place at all: nothing prevents it from unleashing its brazenly fruity notes – cherry, fresh and candied strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, dried fruit – enhanced with plum, black pepper, spices and chocolate. All that? Yes. Don’t be surprised by a slight reduction upon opening: aerate the wine, decant, or let it wait a little in the glass, it will disappear.

Find out more
“You don’t need anything,” says Alice Bouvot, winemaker at Domaine de l’Octavin, “just a grape that’s comfortable in its own skin.” Everything is said in favor of natural wine, it’s a perfect description. Established in 2005, Domaine d'Alice is located in Arbois, in the Jura wine region, often described as the most organic vineyard in France. The practice of producing – among other things – oxidative wines is a good preparation for nature, as this type of wine does not allow any chemical additives and especially no sulfites. It is a secret of this magnificent region. Originally spread over two hectares, the estate, managed entirely biodynamically (Demeter) since 2010, has expanded through the gradual acquisition of plots and now covers seven hectares. An accomplished musician and passionate music lover, Alice aims to apply her musical sensitivity to the wines she makes. She draws a parallel between the technical perfection of conventional wines, which risks excluding feeling, while "a musician who does not know music theory and plays with his guts creates emotion." For her, living wine is like this: instinctive, improvised, emotional. Introduced to natural wine by Stéphane Planche, sommelier at chef Jean-Paul Jeunet in Arbois, she faithfully followed this path. The sometimes whimsical names of her vintages are inspired sometimes by musical art (Dorabella, Zerline), sometimes by the numerous plots of land that make up her vineyard (En Curon, Les Corvées, En Poussot, etc.), and do not disdain a pun from time to time. Likewise, the labels adorned with happy and salacious little gnomes are a signature of the estate. As for the grape varieties, they are the classics of the Jura: Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot Noir for the reds, and Chardonnay, Savagnin for the whites. Alongside her Arbois wines, Alice has created a business selling "on the vine" grapes (Ecocert certified) with her winegrower friends in the region. Natural, committed, joyful and highly drinkable, Alice Bouvot's wines are all the more sought-after as the vintages, produced in plot-by-plot mode, appear, disappear and reappear depending on the vintage and inspiration.

Magnum Munjebel MC Red 2013,

Frank Cornelissen

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

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

Saint Joseph Cuvée Madloba Red 2020

Paul Estève

Rhône Valley - Saint-Joseph AOC AOP

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

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

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

Pauvre Diable Red 2020,

Domaine Serre Besson

Gourmet, deep, and velvety, this wine offers lovely, well-integrated tannins. The notes of black cherry and blackberry are assertive, while the mid-palate is characterized by touches of spice and rose. A beautiful natural red from the Vinsobres terroir, with a bright, clear ruby color. Don't be swayed by what you read on the label: Pauvre Diable, endowed with all the graces mentioned above, is nothing to be pitied. The name alludes to the state in which Victor Taylor, the current owner of the Serre Besson estate, found the estate when he bought it in 2011. A restoration of the vineyard followed, as well as a conversion to organic farming which is now bearing fruit: in this case this natural cuvée, without adding any inputs to the vineyard or the cellar, a pure expression of the estate's varied soils (sand, limestone, clay) and the oldest Grenache vines planted there. You can drink it now, in its youth and freshness, or let it age for three to five years.

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In 2011, Victor, a Californian sommelier who had settled in Nyons after leaving his position as restaurant director at the Carlyle Hotel in New York, became passionate about the Serre Besson estate, then a small, abandoned wine estate nestled around an old stone building. He bought the whole property, renovated it, and revitalized the vineyard. A few years later, the red wines from the Serre Besson estate, in the Vinsobres appellation, were making waves, were noticed in competitions, and won several medals. Victor, upon taking over the estate, began his conversion to organic farming, which now allows him to produce an entirely natural cuvée based on Grenache: this is the Pauvre Diable that we offer you. In addition, it produces a Vinsobres appellation of origin whose grape varieties bring together Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Grenache. As well as a rosé macerated with Grenache Noir, Syrah and Viognier. The owner's ambition is not to impose a new style but to respect the terroir and nature in an environment that offers all the possibilities to make exceptional wines.