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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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Unit price perMercurey Les Vignes Blanches Qvevris Red 2022
The "Les Vignes Blanches" vintage is an organic and natural red wine from the Bourgogne-Mercurey appellation. It is produced by Frédéric Cossard, exclusively from Pinot Noir and aged in terracotta containers (qvevris).
Vinification
Les Vignes Blanches is a climat in the Mercurey appellation with clay-limestone soil. Frédéric Cossard vinified and aged it in qvevri (Georgian-style buried jars), which gives it a patina, rounds it out, and accentuates its velvety texture and depth. It is aged for one year.
Tasting
Fresh, wild, and intense, this Mercurey "Les Vignes Blanches" is a pleasure to drink with abandon. Morello cherries, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, complexity on the nose, giving way to floral then mineral and roasted notes. On the palate, there is plenty of fruit, sap, breadth, and density, with silky, melted tannins of great finesse, completely devoid of harshness. Long, fruity, and distinguished finish. Made for the rib steak, the beef fillet, the roast duck, the fine charcuterie.
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 Burgundy wines (and moreover), not distorted by agricultural chemistry, according to the style and convictions of this winegrower and merchant. Wherever the grapes come from, his 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.
Vin paillé Red 2012
Marie and Vincent Tricot
Marie and Vincent Tricot's Vin de paille is undoubtedly a curiosity: it's a sweet wine made from 100% Auvergne Gamay, entirely organic and natural, made like a Vin de paille from the Jura. The harvest is dried on straw in an attic before pressing. We're not used to Gamay vinified this way, or even red wine vinified this way.
It's an experiment, but the result more than justifies the boldness. Drying on straw concentrates the sugar in the grape berries and accentuates the flavors. Only a drop remains in each berry, but what a drop! Sweet, caressing, syrupy, complex, this Vin de paille is a delight. Its color is not a pure red but an amber, and the nose is a veritable basket of slightly jammy fruits: plum, prune, raisins, strawberry. It is possible that a refermentation takes place in the bottle, which can give a sparkling attack to this wine, but it disappears quickly. On the palate, a delicious sweetness, lots of strawberry and pleasantness. Very easy to drink.
To find out more
Among the generation of Auvergne winemakers who, at the dawn of the 21st century, are resurrecting the vineyards of this beautiful volcanic province of the Massif Central in organic and natural ways, Marie and Vincent Tricot are pioneers, and their name is well known to those who have long loved natural wine. After a varied winegrowing journey that took them from Beaujolais to Chile and from Chile to Costières-de-Nîmes, they landed in Auvergne, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, in the commune of Orcet where they took over Claude Prugnard's vineyard, a land that had not seen the slightest chemical input for around thirty years. The estate is located on a hillside, on the left bank of the Allier, in a volcanic clay-limestone area neighboring the vineyards of Châteaugay, Chanturgue and Corent. They acquired it in 2003 and, since then, have been making wines from Auvergne Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a little Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. These rare and sought-after wines are mainly sold directly. They have a straight and flamboyant profile, and express themselves with as much character as simplicity.
In Absentia Red 2018
Entirely produced in the north of El Bierzo from trousseau (locally called bastarda) on various quartz-clay-limestone plots at an altitude of 550 meters. The vines are seventy to ninety years old. Maceration lasts three to four days in chestnut vats, followed by nine months of aging in French oak barrels. No filtration, no added sulfites. Dark garnet color, smoky and fruity nose (trousseau-style: black cherry and raspberry), with a characteristic hint of bitter cocoa and peony. The mouthfeel is full and velvety, the flavor is fruity and smoky, both crisp and mineral. The delicious finish calls for another sip... Serve with roasted game birds, rare pigeon, roast venison, coq au vin, or chicken mole poblano. In a carafe, it will fully express its charms.
Munjebel FM Red 2020
Munjebel FM, one of Frank Cornelissen's single-plot cuvées, is an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine with DOP Etna Rosso and IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese appellations. It comes from the vast Feudo di Mezzo contrada, specifically its upper part, known as Sottana. Its soil is deep, and the wines it produces are of an unusual elegance, but typical of this region. The site is ventilated, but ideal ripeness is difficult to achieve in humid vintages.
Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed, lightly crushed, and then macerated for 50 days on the skins. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 18 months in fiberglass vats and 18 months in bottles. It is not clarified but lightly filtered.
Tasting
An almost Burgundian elegance and roundness characterize this wine, even in warm vintages. A special vintage of great finesse, which adapts to the most varied dishes. Try it with all the cuisines of the South: Italian, Greek, Provençal… We would recommend a delicious cassoulet from Sillon to accompany it. Or simply a good black pig ham from Bigorre.
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 enhanced 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 plots (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Côte de Nuits 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…
Munjebel CR Red 2020
Cornelissen
Munjebel CR is a single-plot red cuvée, certified organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural. It is made from pure Nerello Mascalese grapes by Frank Cornelissen in the PDO (Personal Designation of Origin) Etna Rosso/PGI Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. Munjebel CR comes from the Campo Re plot, which is partially ungrafted and approximately 70 years old, located in the far west of the valley at an altitude of 735 meters. The soil is deep, and ripeness is difficult to achieve in wet years. This gives a particular character to the wines from this plot, closer to Nebbiolo (a typical Tuscan grape variety) than the other reds from Azienda Frank Cornelissen.
Vinification
Grown biodynamically, the Nerello Mascalese grapes of Munjebel CR are destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation, starting from a starter culture and using indigenous yeasts, is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.
Tasting
Munjebel CR is a deep, elegant and tannic wine. It may take a while to express itself. With its great freshness, it needs to be paired with meats with character. A roast rack of black pork from Bigorre, or a rib of beef from Wagyu or Angus from the Maison Aitana, that's the perfect match.
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered 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…
Munjebel CD Red 2020
Cornelissen
Munjebel CD is a single-plot red cuvée, certified organic (Eurofeuille) and biodynamic. Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, it is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from a single plot in the Calderara Sottana contrada, at an altitude of 610 m, facing north. This high-quality contrada is appreciated in cold and difficult vintages: its gravelly soil absorbs heat and re-radiates it during the coldest hours of the night.
Vinification
100% Nerello Mascalese, Munjebel CD comes from 40-year-old vines cultivated biodynamically. The grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation starts from a vat foot and is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. Aged for 18 months in epoxy vats, then 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.
Tasting
This highly regarded contrada produces quite feminine wines, combining elegance and depth, especially in the best years. You can pair them with red meats, charcuterie, and great Italian, Iberian, or Gascon hams. For example, ham from black pork from Bigorre or a cecina (beef ham) from maison Aitana.
Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered 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…
Nails and Dust Red 2021
Behind this metallic and dusty appellation (the translation of the cuvée's name) lies a wine of character, lively and mineral, full of sap and vitality. It is made from Minervois Carignan grapes macerated and crushed for six days, resulting in a beautiful extraction of tannins that need to soften slightly. At the time of writing (March 2023), this wine still requires approximately one year of bottle aging before it can be optimally enjoyed. After this time, it will reveal all its passion and energy. An excellent companion to red meats, grilled meats, grilled sausages, and good times with friends.
Find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experience as a winemaking business. The creative duo has a lot in common: Claire is the sister of Daniel Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne, and Jura grape varieties, all readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason, and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. Belly Wine Experiment's unique feature is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of its blends, with Catalan Xarello, for example, blending effortlessly with Puy-de-Dôme Gamay. The wines are made using semi-carbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The winery is also known for its high-quality, vinous perries.
Vino Rosso Red 2017
Corva Gialla
Red fruits, mineral and earthy notes, tertiary aromas, spices, and tobacco: this sums up the profile of Vino Rosso, the emblematic red of Azienda Corva Gialla, with beautiful notes of evolution and a pronounced but not excessive full-bodiedness. The richness, due to a high natural sugar content during fermentation, and the polyphenolic maturity are remarkable, as well as the balance between velvety and tannicity, lightness and body, roundness and acidity. On the nose, notes of spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, and fennel; On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and dominated by red fruits: ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Black fruits and plum are not left out, and delicious aromas of dried fruits (prune, fig) combine with spices on the finish. Vino Rosso is a 100% Sangiovese from vines planted at an altitude of 450 meters on a west-facing plot with volcanic soils. The harvest is destemmed and macerated for about three weeks in fiberglass vats, with daily pumping over or punching down as needed. Vino Rosso is aged for twelve months in chestnut barrels and at least two years in bottles before being marketed.
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The azienda Corva Gialla ("yellow crow") is a wine estate in Lazio, Italy, located on the edge of Umbria in the Alta Tuscia Viterbese. A volcanic region considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and characterized by its calanches, high tuff rock formations delimiting deep valleys carved by numerous rivers and torrents. Corva Gialla is located in Lubriano, opposite Civita di Bagnoregio. Alta Tuscia is proving to be a breeding ground for young winemaking talents devoted to nature who are promoting these lands deprived throughout history. Founded in 2017, the estate comprises four hectares cultivated by Beatrice Arweiler, originally from another wine-growing region, between the Rhine and the Moselle. The new owner also planted an olive grove (Frantoio and Leccino varieties) and developed the estate into a mixed crop and livestock system. The vines were planted with the help of Gian Marco Antonuzzi of the Le Coste estate. The friable volcanic soil lends itself beautifully to viticulture and the planting of grape varieties such as Grechetto d'Umbria, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and Ciliegiolo. The estate's wines are quintessentially Italian, meaning they are crafted primarily for enjoyment. They are straightforward, deep, and easy to drink, expressing the strong minerality of their soils.
Vino Rosso Poggio Pastene Red 2016,
Corva Gialla
Poggio Pastene is a superior red from the Corva Gialla range; it is produced only in the finest vintages and comes from the finest plot on the estate. It is dense and full-bodied, with a supple texture and well-integrated tannins, and superb accents of leather and tobacco. The nose is intense and persistent—notes of red fruits, rose, and violet. On the palate, the olfactory sensations are confirmed, supported by a beautiful structure. Poggio Pastene is dry and straightforward, well-balanced between roundness and acidity. This is a single-variety Sangiovese whose vines are planted at an altitude of 450 meters on a west-facing plot with volcanic soils. The harvest, done by hand, is destemmed and macerated for about three weeks on the skins in fiberglass vats, with daily pumping over or punching down as needed. Aging is twenty-four months in old oak barrels. Poggio Pastene is kept in bottle for two years before being marketed.
Find out more
The Azienda Corva Gialla (“yellow crow”) is a wine estate in Lazio, Italy, located on the edge of Umbria in the Alta Tuscia Viterbese. A volcanic region considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and characterized by its calanches, high tuff rock formations delimiting deep valleys carved by numerous rivers and torrents. Corva Gialla is located in Lubriano, opposite Civita di Bagnoregio. Alta Tuscia is a breeding ground for young winemaking talents dedicated to nature, who are reclaiming these historically neglected lands. Founded in 2017, the estate comprises four hectares cultivated by Beatrice Arweiler, originally from another wine-growing region, between the Rhine and the Moselle. The new owner has also planted an olive grove (Frantoio and Leccino varieties) and converted the estate into a mixed crop and livestock system. The vines were planted with the help of Gian Marco Antonuzzi of the Le Coste estate. The friable volcanic soil lends itself beautifully to viticulture and the planting of grape varieties such as Grechetto d'Umbria, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and Ciliegiolo. The estate's wines are quintessentially Italian, meaning they are made primarily for enjoyment. They are straight, deep and easy to drink, expressing the strong minerality of their soils.
GT Garrut Ancestral Sparkling Red 2019
Partida Creus
With its liveliness and deep notes of black fruit, GT Garrut Ancestral recalls the best of Lambrusco, but it is something else entirely. It is an atypical but oh-so-delightful single-varietal wine that deserves a closer look at its original character. Its purplish color with an exuberant pink foam, already expressing notes of blackberry on the nose, is already quite a program. GT Garrut displays beautiful earthy, juicy, and intense qualities; it is very characteristic of black fruits, particularly blackberry (blackberry or tree blackberry). Beautiful notes of red fruits too, and a delicious acidity. It is made entirely from Garrut, also called Monastrell, a Catalan grape variety related to Mourvèdre. This bright, summer-perfect wine is hand-harvested. Entirely destemmed, the grapes macerate for three days with punching down every three hours, and alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts takes place for four months in stainless steel vats, followed by twenty months in oak barrels. Unfiltered, unfined, no sulfites added. GT Garrut smells of family vines, artisanal, unconstrained wine.
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Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking and history—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-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, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. There 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.
Magnum BB "Hondos" Red 2018
Partida Creus
Antonella Gerosa and Massimo Marchiori, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There, they found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. This is why their estate is as important from a winemaking perspective as it is from a historical perspective - we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia.
Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits exclamations of joy. This 100% Bobal is a racy and finely wild red from the Hondos plot, built on a grape variety common in Spain but whose expression is very original here. Dark cherry red color; on the nose, candy, sweet flowers, fresh fruits, violet, thyme. On the palate, a lot of distinction: a straight acidity and morello cherry, ripe plum, black pepper, a small saline touch on the finish. Serve well chilled.
Allé Canto Sweet Red 2016
Antony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding them and making wine from them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winegrower, in other words, a wine merchant whose area of activity extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a wine technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he created La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path filled with favorites, and each of these favorites is a vineyard. The result is a dizzying mosaic of natural, lively, and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can list such a variety of grape varieties on their menu: the whole of southern France is there with muscats, grenaches, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and all the rest.
This single-varietal wine made from Alicante Bouschet comes from the ferruginous clay-limestone soils of Cessenon-sur-Orb, in the Saint-Chinian appellation area. The vines grow on a very old plot (seventy years old). The late harvest is sorted berry by berry and the vinification is carried out in open amphorae. Maceration takes place for three months, and the wine is aged in demijohns for four years. All this produces a very powerful and aromatic wine, with a kirsch, vegetal and fresh nose, smoky and chocolatey, black olive, which will not leave you indifferent. The palate is full, with very little tannin for an Alicante, and it's hard to get fresher with a late harvest. The wine's ageing is remarkable (more than six months) and the aging potential is a good twenty years.
Magnum Que Pasa Red 2012, Domaine Leonine
Seventy-year-old Grenache noir and gris combine to create this highly drinkable red. The harvest spends fifteen days in carbonic maceration before spending five months in barrels before being bottled by gravity without added sulfur. Juicy, sappy, and delicious, it smells and tastes of the garrigue and the Mediterranean, enhanced by flawless freshness. So what's going on? Only very pleasant things.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Magnum Munjebel Red 2014
Frank Cornelissen's Munjebel 2014 is a pure and intense immersion in the volcanic terroir of Etna. Made exclusively from Nerello Mascalese, this red wine aptly expresses the identity of northern Sicily. It comes from several exceptional plots, notably those used for the estate's vintages, such as Zottorinoto-Chiusa Spagnolo, Feudo di Mezzo-Porcaria, and Pontale Palino, as well as from vines specifically dedicated to this cuvée (Rampante Sottana, Piano Daini, and Crasà).
In the glass, its translucent ruby color evokes the refinement and finesse of a great Pinot Noir, while preserving the energy and intensity characteristic of Etna wines. The nose is a true olfactory journey, revealing aromas of wild red fruits, black cherry, and raspberry, accompanied by subtle spicy and mineral notes, indicative of the basaltic influence of the soil. On the palate, it is both structured and vibrant: its tannins are present yet silky, and the ripeness of the fruit is balanced with a beautiful acidity. A slight salty touch prolongs the finish and recalls the volcanic origins of the terroir.
A natural wine with no added sulfites, the Munjebel 2014 reflects Frank Cornelissen's non-interventionist philosophy. This rich and expressive wine is ideal for aging (5 to 10 years), but is already splendid today after aeration in a carafe. Served between 16 and 18°C, it will pair wonderfully with grilled meats, Mediterranean dishes, or a porcini mushroom risotto.
Magnum VN Vinel.lo Ancestral Sparkling Red 2016
VN, Vinel·lo Ancestral Red Sparkling Wine, is a natural sparkling wine resulting from a blend of indigenous grape varieties: Samsó (Cinsault), Garrut (Mourvèdre), Trepat, Ull de Perdiu, Queixal de Llop, Sumoll, and Grenache Noir, harvested from predominantly limestone soils. After crushing, the musts from the different grape varieties ferment one after the other and are gradually added, thus extending fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Fermentation completes in the bottle for ten months on fine lees. No filtration, no additives, no added sulfites. A fruity, very fresh sparkling wine with floral and yeasty notes. Very long finish. Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Magnum I'm Natural Don't Panic #7 Red 2018
Coruna del Conde
Julien López's I'm Natural, Don't Panic range consists of macerated wines. This 100% Tempranillo red is both powerful and supple; its freshness is the result of a high-altitude climate that subjects the vines to significant temperature variations. A lovely bouquet of red fruits and a beautiful balance of sweetness and minerality. Serve with tapas, grilled meats, or poultry.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Unatantum Liquoreux Red Still 2009
This sweet red is 100% aleatico, grown on the volcanic soils of the Azienda Le Coste estate. The grapes are air-dried for a month, hung in whole bunches from wires, and the wine is slowly fermented for three years. This produces a wine that is sweet without being syrupy, and wonderfully complex.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Coteau Libre Red 2016
A beautiful macabeu with a strong personality, vinified by Michaël Georget in the Albères region. This grape variety has often been used as a blending ingredient; it deserves to shine on its own. The nose already announces the wine's structure and velvety texture, and the palate appreciates the clarity and tension, which doesn't prevent it from being very delicious.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Rafalot Red 2013,
The Carignans of this Côtes-Catalanes are 125 years old and grow at an altitude of 300 meters in a clay-limestone valley, surrounded by wild fig trees, cedars, olive trees, apricot trees, and buzzing beehives, all protected by a pine forest. Fermentation lasts two weeks in concrete vats, with whole bunches crushed by foot, followed by aging in vats. Cherry and spice, supple and elegant tannins: full-bodied and irresistible.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Into the Wine Red 2016
La Sorga
The Mourvèdres that make up this single-variety red wine come from the Saint-Chinian appellation. The destemmed grapes macerate in demi-muids (thick 500- to 650-liter barrels) for sixty days, virtually in an infusion, then the wine is aged for six months in amphorae. Notes of violet and black fruits: perfect for a tagine, borscht, or red cabbage velouté. Aging potential: twenty years.
Pairs with: Middle Eastern cuisine, Pot au feu