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Discover our selection of the best red wines
Our cellar team's selection allows you to discover the best bottles from French and European appellations, with no added sulfites.
Over the vintages, we offer a wide choice of quality organic and natural wines.
Our appellations (AOP/AOC or IGP; Vin de France and its European equivalents) are located in France, Spain and Catalonia, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Austria.
They concern classic regions — Bordeaux, Burgundy and Côtes du Rhône — or lesser-known ones such as Auvergne, Provence, Languedoc, Sud-Ouest or Savoie.
In Italy, appellations include Sicily (Etna DOP), Lazio and Campania.
In Spain, Bierzo, Andalusia and Catalonia.
All the emblematic grape varieties are in our cellar: Pinot Noir (Burgundy, Alsace, Loire), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (Bordeaux), Malbec (Cahors), Gamay (Auvergne, Loire), Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre or Carignan (Rhône and South).
We can also mention Touriga Nacional in Portugal, Nerello Mascalese in Sicily, Tempranillo in Spain and Avgoustiatis in Greece.
Moreover, the creativity of "natural" wines tends to open up grape varieties and experiment with their cultivation in new regions, to make non-classic blends, or to highlight forgotten grape varieties in their traditional regions.
Which red wine to drink with fish?
It is possible to serve a red wine with fish in the case of a rather spicy recipe (for example, with tomato and no cream) or with a red wine sauce, or with grilled or roasted fish.
We recommend a rather fluid and light cuvée or a "blouge," which is a wine halfway between rosé and red.
Which red wine to drink with cheese?
In principle, none, apart from sweet, dessert or fortified wines such as port, banyuls, fortified grenache, maury or vermouth.
Dry tannins clash with the dairy components of cheese, creating a bitterness and acridity in the mouth that some may find unpleasant.
If you insist, you can pair a light cuvée with a very dry pressed cheese (old Gouda, old Mimolette) or a black brie.
Which red wine to drink with a barbecue?
A priori, they can all be served with a barbecue.
However, we will favor easy-drinking, fruity, supple and quaffable wines that will go with all grilled meats.
Therefore, prefer cuvées from the South of France, Spain and Italy with little extraction and maceration, or medium-bodied ones.
Trust their color, which should be clear and brilliant.
How to choose a good red wine?
It all depends on what you like and how you want to serve it.
For an all-purpose wine, pleasant at the table, with friends and as an aperitif, choose a Gamay grape (Beaujolais, Auvergne), a Grolleau, a Pineau d'Aunis or a wine from the South of France or Italy.
To accompany meats and regional dishes, opt for a full-bodied wine with substance (Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre).
For an exceptional moment, turn to our grand crus from Burgundy, Jura or Andalusia.
At what temperature should red wine be drunk?
The more body, substance and age the bottle has, the higher its serving temperature.
The closer we get to a "thirst-quenching" wine, a quaffable wine, a young wine or a "blouge" (rosé tending towards red or vice-versa), the cooler it is served.
The ideal temperature is between 15 and 18 °C, and can go up to 20 °C for an older, tannic and more evolved bottle.
What are the most famous red wines?
In France, the Bordeaux - Burgundy - Beaujolais trilogy comes first (Beaujolais is now part of Burgundy), closely followed by the Côtes-du-Rhône.
In Spain, it's Rioja, and in Italy, Chianti and Barolo.
In second position: those from Languedoc.
Worth knowing: cuvées from the Loire Valley, Auvergne, South-West, Provence and Alsace.
This list is not exhaustive.
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436 products
436 products
Description
La cuvée la plus accessible et gourmande du Domaine Marcel Lapierre. Issue principalement de jeunes vignes de Gamay, Raisins Gaulois est un rouge croquant, juteux et terriblement convivial, marqué par des arômes de cerise fraîche, de framboise et de petits fruits rouges. Un vin de plaisir immédiat qui incarne parfaitement l'esprit du Beaujolais nature.
Vinification
Vendanges manuelles, fermentation avec levures indigènes, macération semi-carbonique en grappes entières, élevage court en cuve, sans collage ni filtration et avec un minimum de soufre à la mise selon les millésimes.
Description
Le classique du domaine. Issu des terroirs historiques de Morgon, ce Gamay exprime toute la profondeur du cru avec des notes de cerise noire, de mûre, de violette et d'épices douces. La bouche allie fruit, fraîcheur et structure avec une remarquable capacité de garde, tout en conservant la finesse qui a fait la réputation de la famille Lapierre.
Vinification
Vendanges manuelles, grappes entières, fermentation avec levures indigènes, macération semi-carbonique traditionnelle beaujolaise, élevage en vieux foudres et pièces bourguignonnes pendant plusieurs mois, sans collage ni filtration.
A free-spirited and vibrant Pinot Noir, where fruit expresses itself with freshness and indulgence. A lively and approachable cuvée.
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This 2025 Pinot Noir reflects Domaine Einhart's natural approach. The grapes are cultivated without chemicals and vinified gently to preserve their purity.
The color is a light ruby. The nose offers aromas of fresh red fruits and subtle spicy notes. On the palate, the wine is supple, fluid, with fine tannins and excellent drinkability.
A delightful red wine, perfect for convivial moments around simple dishes.
Volnay - Rouge 2019,
Domaine de Chassorney
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counterexample to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for some time as a wine broker 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 exercise is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc regions. At his place, the work of the soil and vines is done as naturally as possible: regular plowing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper, and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.
The AOC Volnay is perched on the heights of the Côte de Beaune. This wine comes from the Lurets plot, a steep terroir, facing west-southeast and located between 230 and 280 meters above sea level. The soils are mainly limestone, stony, ferruginous and reddish, and nourish magnificent vines of around fifty years old. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. The aging is about a year in barrels. The nose of black cherry delights, followed by candied fruits and peppery and sweet spices. On the palate, this wine is fresh, elegant, always full of Cossard-style fruit and silky tannins.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Cariboom Rouge 2020,
Domaine de l'Octavin
Carignan and Grenache, cultivated by Claude Ughetto in Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols (Vaucluse) and vinified in Arbois by Alice Bouvot, explode on the palate, resulting in Cariboom! The Carignan (50% of the blend) macerates for twenty days in whole bunches, while the Grenache macerates for five weeks. The semicarbonic maceration of the whole bunches gives Cariboom! an undeniable freshness, fruit, and sap. Pretty purplish-ruby color and tangy notes of blueberry, cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, and cranberry. Fruity, juicy, airy lightness, and atypical fruitiness. On the finish, licorice and bay leaf mingle with cinnamon: Cariboom! is very complex despite its great drinkability.
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"You don't need anything," says Alice Bouvot, winemaker at Domaine de l'Octavin, "just a grape that feels good in its skin." Everything is said in favor of natural wine; it's a perfect description. Created 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 making—among other things—oxidative wines is a good preparation for natural wine, as this type of wine does not allow any chemical additives, and especially no sulfites. It's 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 intends 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 will faithfully follow this path. The sometimes whimsical titles 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 of "on the vine" grapes (Ecocert certified) with her winegrower friends from the region. Natural, committed, joyful and highly drinkable, the wines of Alice Bouvot are all the more coveted as the vintages, produced in plot-by-plot mode, appear, disappear and reappear depending on the vintage and inspiration.
€102,00
Unit price per€102,00
Unit price perAntenet Cahors Rouge 1998
Danis dans la Vigne
A cellar gem, between family heritage and the depth of time
Here is a rare, almost confidential wine, which tells a story even before it is opened. Antenet 1998 is a unique cuvée, vinified more than twenty-five years ago by Danis's father, the current winemaker of the Danis dans la Vigne estate. This Cahors from another era, made from 100% Malbec, was crafted with respect for tradition and with a philosophy already very close to natural winemaking: short maceration, aging in concrete vats for two years, no oenological "makeup."
The typical clay-limestone soil of the Cahors vineyard produces an excellent keeping wine, with tannins polished by time and incredibly rich aromatics. At only 12% alcohol, it defies modern standards with its balance, freshness, and exceptional longevity.
A deep, aged, memory-filled wine
After more than two decades of rest, Antenet 1998 reveals a brick-red garnet color, with brown reflections. The complex and captivating nose unveils aromas of stewed black fruits, prune, blond tobacco, with a hint of undergrowth. On the palate, the texture is melted, ample, with a rare smoothness. This wine evokes a bygone era, yet remains strikingly delicious, perfect with roasted meats, game, or a dish rich in umami.
Served at 16-18°C, with no need for decanting, this wine is ready to be enjoyed. It is a liquid archive, a family treasure, to be discovered like reading a letter from the past.
Version Sud Rouge 2022
Fréderic Cossard
One hundred percent Grenache is the composition of Version Sud by Frédéric Cossard, an organic and natural red wine vinified in Burgundy from organic grapes harvested in the Vaucluse region.
Vinification
The Grenache grapes used to make Version Sud are harvested near Vaison-La-Romaine, in northern Provence, on clay-limestone soils. The vinification begins with a two-week maceration of whole bunches, without exogenous yeasts or added sulfur, and ends with a one-year aging in concrete eggs.
Tasting
The nose of Version Sud is intensely fruity, highlighted by garrigue plants. The ruby color is superb and silky. On the palate, red and black fruits abound and are fresh. A true Provençal Rhône wine in the hands of this Burgundian virtuoso, Frédéric Cossard.
Learn more about Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate
Frédéric Cossard and the Chassorney estate give voice to the terroirs and wines of Burgundy and elsewhere in an organic and natural way, 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 Chassorney estate 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.
Gamay Rouge 2020,
Domaine de l'Octavin
Nice acidity, lovely minerality, plenty of aroma, and a suppleness that asserts itself in the glass. Whichever way you look at it, this Gamay is very Gamay: fruity, juicy, with pleasant notes of raspberry, blackberry, licorice, and cherry. Mayga Gamay also offers a slight sparkle that awakens the dead. The grapes come from Pierre Boyat's estate in Leynes, Beaujolais, and macerate for twenty days in whole bunches.
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"You don't need anything," says Alice Bouvot, winemaker at Domaine de l'Octavin, "just a grape that feels good in its 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.
€102,00
Unit price per€102,00
Unit price perVolnay 1er Cru Les Roncerets Rouge 2021
Domaine de Chassorney
On the nose, raspberry, strawberry, violet, candied fruit, spices, a touch of undergrowth and animal notes. On the palate, more red fruit and violet, blackberry, blackcurrant, and cherry. A very fine, gourmet, complex wine, endowed with finesse and great aromatic concentration. Solid, well-structured tannins. This robust wine for laying down, which can be left for some time before drinking and will age magnificently, comes from vines around forty years old. The twelve-month aging is done mainly in barrels, a third of which are new oak. The Roncerets climate consists of very stony clay-limestone soil. This wine has excellent aging potential. It is aged for one year in barrels and vinified without the addition of sulfites.
To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful 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 for some time as a wine broker 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, 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.
€123,00
Unit price per€123,00
Unit price perPommard 1er Cru Pezerolles Rouge 2020,
Domaine de Chassorney
Classified as a premier cru, this Pinot Noir, full of candied red fruits and suppleness, comes from a plot established among the first in the Pommard AOC in 1936. Its terroir is located between 250 and 330 meters above sea level on marl, brown-calcium, and brown-calcareous soils. The grapes macerate in whole bunches. Aging takes place for about a year in barrels.
Find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful wine-growing practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice which are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for a time as a wine broker 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 merchant company and purchased 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 vintages. The practice is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular plowing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. 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.
€94,80
Unit price per€94,80
Unit price per
€80,00
Unit price per€80,00
Unit price per
€98,00
Unit price per€98,00
Unit price perSantenay 1er Cru Passetemps Rouge 2020,
Frédéric Cossard
Deep ruby color, nose revealing candied red fruits and floral notes. A hint of violet is discernible. On the palate, it is rich, refined, and concentrated. The Passetemps climat is located between the village of Santenay and the Gravières climat, another premier cru. The soil is clay-limestone, the vines are seventy years old, and this single-plot cuvée, characteristically, has great aging qualities and deserves to be cherished.
Find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful wine-growing practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice which are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for a time as a wine broker 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 merchant company and purchased 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 vintages. The practice is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular plowing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. 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.
Pommard Rouge 2021
Domaine de Chassorney
The illustrious Burgundy vineyard of Pommard, the epitome of Burgundy red wine, is represented here by Frédéric Cossard in the form of this beautiful wine full of red fruits and voluptuousness. On the palate, it is supple and light, but also has presence and personality. A straightforward, loyal, taut wine, adored by the ancient Dukes of Burgundy. The soils are clay-limestone and well-drained at the lower slopes, and at higher altitudes are Oxfordian marl, brown calcic and brown calcareous soils. Occasionally, a red tint emerges, revealing iron oxide. Pommard retains a virile and assertive reputation, especially inherited from the 19th century. However, it reveals itself to be sensitive, supple, and feline, tending towards leather, pepper, and chocolate with age. It is best to let this wine age a little to allow it to express its full potential. The Pinot Noir harvest on clay-limestone soil is macerated for three weeks in whole bunches before aging for a year in concrete eggs.
To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful 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 for some time as a wine broker 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, 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.
L'Enchanteresse Rouge 2017,
La Grapperie
A very intense nose of black fruits extends into a beautiful volume on the palate, and the length leaves one dreaming. A cuvée of old vines, L'Enchanteresse is a 100% Pineau d'Aunis with excellent aging potential. The terroir of this aptly named Enchanteresse is made up of flint clay over limestone. The Pineau d'Aunis, which makes up the entire cuvée, is harvested at full maturity, sorted, then macerated for four weeks in truncated cone-shaped vats with punching down by foot. Fermentation occurs naturally using indigenous yeasts, without any oenological additives, in order to preserve the purity of the grapes and the expression of the vintage and the soil. The wine is aged for between twelve and twenty-four months on lees in demi-muids in cellars dug into the tuffeau stone.
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La Grapperie, in the Coteaux du Loir appellation, 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 permitted in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the remainder consisting of a few acres 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 has been meticulous in restoring the vineyard. The entire estate is farmed organically. The soils are worked, and all viticultural interventions are manual, including the harvest, which is 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, using indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.