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54 products
Cuvée 0.72+ Red 2019
De Vini
With a slightly dark ruby color and faded rose tones, this is a red wine that should logically catch your eye for your greatest pleasure: this cuvée 0.72+ red comes from very different terroirs than its white equivalent (which we also offer). The vines from which it comes, 80% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah and 10% Viognier, are located in the Côtes du Rhône region, in Rochefort-du-Gard, and grow on a soil of rolled pebbles that is not without points in common with that of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is only a few kilometers away on the other bank of the Rhône. The presence of a white grape variety - Viognier - in this red blend gives this wine a great originality, a floral side that hovers over the entire organoleptic experience: there are faded rose petals on both the nose and the palate, as well as a fairly strong tendency towards white flowers (Viognier, again). There is also a little prune and a complex, though light, aromatic structure. This is a beautiful wine that was long overdue and which is currently at its peak, with beautifully melted tannins and many more years ahead of it. Great length, great structure on the palate, and a pleasant salivating side. Viognier is an inspiration from the Northern Côtes-du-Rhône adapted to the Southern Côtes-du-Rhône, and red blends featuring white grape varieties are an increasingly common occurrence in the world of natural wines. As for the cultivation and vinification, the vines are managed biodynamically and the grapes were macerated for two weeks with care: no pumping over, no crushing, as little intervention as possible. Just a little punching down, no more than necessary. If the name of the cuvée intrigues you, be aware that following a small technical incident during bottling, it does not contain exactly the standard quantity. This detail should not worry you, because in this case, 72 cl is a maximum: most bottles require between 1 and 3 cl to reach 75, which is very little. Don't let the fluidity and delicacy of this wine fool you either; it's actually a solid wine that will pair well with solid dishes like roast wild boar and anything with truffles.
Chiroubles Red 2017
A very seductive cuvée, devilishly Beaujolais, Chiroubles to the max, where the Gamay expresses all its freshness and red and black fruits. The nose offers aromas of red and black fruits; the palate is supple, delicious, round, and fruity with a lovely refreshing acidity. Pair it with good stews or the best country hams; even pata negra will melt with pleasure.
Auguste (exclusive vintage) Red 2022
Sous le Végétal
Organic and natural, Auguste takes its name from the indigenous Greek avgoustiatis grape variety, from which it is made entirely. It is, for now, the only dry red wine from the Sous le Végétal project, led on the Greek island of Samos by Patrick Bouju. The vines grow on the foothills of Mount Karvounis, not far from the village of Pagondas. The wine is a blend of four types of rock on two plots. The avgoustiatis grape variety ("the august") is a rare variety, the first red grape variety harvested in Greece. It is grown organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines, pruned in goblet form, are harvested by hand on the early morning of August 15th.
Vinification
The wine is first obtained by a forty-day maceration of whole bunches in stainless steel vats. Half of the vinification is done in 500-liter Stockinger barrels and the other half in ovoid concrete vats. This wine from the Samos terroir is completely additive-free, unfiltered and bottled by gravity. The black bottle ensures the wine ages and the closure is made with a cork sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.
Tasting
Auguste is a light red wine with no additives or added sulfites which, through its Mediterranean nature, recalls something of the reds of the Jura: characteristic earthy and mineral notes, lots of character - prune, clove, anise, vanilla, cherry jam, rich tannins and, on the finish, a salinity due to the mineral-rich soils (particularly schist and limestone) of the island of Samos. The fruity notes remain taut and elegant. Decanting is recommended. Auguste will enjoy all the meze and hors d'oeuvres from the land or the sea. A charcuterie from Maison Montalet or from Ferme de Mayrinhac (for example a galabard black pudding) will suit him like a glove, or even smoked scallops (Salmon de France).
Learn more about Sous le Végétal
Under the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural vintages exclusively from Culinaries, created in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team gathered around Patrick Bouju. Sous le Végétal also takes under its wing the vintages A la Natural signed Patrick Bouju.
History
Sous le Végétal marks the rebirth of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the eastern Aegean Sea with its dense, wooded vegetation. This rich plant life covers a unique and varied subsoil: volcanic rocks (basalts), limestone, quartz, pink granites, schists, iron cast iron... In Sous le Végétal, the winemakers of Samos rediscover the wine they made in their childhood, proving once again that natural wine allows, through innovative projects, to reconnect with forgotten traditions.
Grape varieties and vinification
Four of the seven vintages of Sous le Végétal — Livia, Hüpnos, Octave, Palli & Genesia and Auguste — are produced on around sixty plots of Samos muscat à petits grains between 400 and 910 meters above sea level. The other vintages, Auguste, Alexandre and Sémélé, are respectively based on avgoustiatis, asyrtiko and a blend of Samos muscat and avgoustiatis. Each plot is vinified separately. Four types of winemaking containers are used: amphorae, concrete eggs, stainless steel vats, and 500-liter barrels. Each plot is vinified in at least two of the four containers, and the wine is aged in black, wax-sealed bottles. No sulfur is added or filtration is performed.
GT Garrut Red 2019,
Partida Creus
GT Garrut is a surprise, a lovely and unusual single-varietal wine. The purplish color alone hints at its originality. It is made entirely from Garrut, a Catalan grape variety related to Mourvèdre, also called Monastrell. GT Garrut displays beautiful, earthy and intense qualities, with a strong black fruit character, particularly blackberry (blackberry or tree blackberry). Beautiful red fruit notes as well, and a delicious acidity. This brilliant wine, perfect for the summer months, is harvested by hand. 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 added sulfites. GT Garrut smells of family vines, artisanal, and limitless wine.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking and history—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties that they passionately revive to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it is not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it is 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 give their best juice. 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 yet always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, exude life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.
I'm Natural Don't Panic #8 Red 2018
Bodegas Coruña 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.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
BB "Hondos" Red 2019,
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.
Cuvée 0.72+ (exclusive cuvée) Red 2019 Magnum
De Vini
Exclusive to Culinaries, 0.72+ red is a merchant cuvée produced by Christophe Bosque of the De Vini estate, located in the Nantes region. The vines from which it is produced, 80% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah, and 10% Viognier, are located in the Côtes du Rhône region, in Rochefort-du-Gard, and grow on a pebble-rich soil similar to that of nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Classified as a Vin de France, it has its counterpart in white.
Vinification
The vines are managed biodynamically and the grapes are macerated for two weeks on the skins and fermented on indigenous yeasts: no pumping over, no crushing, as little intervention as possible. Just a little punching down. No filtration, no fining, no sulfites.
Tasting
0.72+ red has a slightly dark ruby color, with faded rose tones. This floral note is found on the nose and palate. The presence of white Viognier in this red blend gives this wine a floral side, a rather rare note of white flowers. A little prune, a complex yet light aromatic structure, a pleasant salivating side. This is a beautiful wine that still has good years ahead of it, especially in the magnum format which polishes all its qualities. Great length, great structure on the palate. 0.72+ is a robust wine that will pair well with solid dishes and anything containing truffles. Let's pair it without further ado with a nice grilled meat (a rib of beef from Maison Aitana) and let's heat up for the occasion a good truffle sauce from Maison Pébeyre.
Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini
De Vini, along with the Vinilibre winery, is the multifaceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his two-hectare vineyard and fermented in underground vats in the Nantes style—a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural form.
Gabbro Fondu
After spending years as a wine merchant, importer, and then wine merchant, this former cameraman, who holds a BTS in oenology and viticulture, acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson, in 2017. The soils there consist of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.
Muscadet for the better
Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, particularly in Languedoc, but the winemaker retains a special affection for his vines, which he maintains with passion and attention to the terroir. A touch of humor and a sense of pun can be seen on his labels and in his appellations, but in the bottle, they are serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them.
SM Sumoll Red 2019,
Partida Creus
This red Sumoll, a very old Catalan red grape variety long neglected, is a favorite of Partida Creus. A low-yielding wine, Sumoll thrives on poor soils, giving it great concentration, beautiful balance, juicy, dense and generous black fruit, notes of Mediterranean spices and plants, and finally an earthy, animal, and smoky character. The short maceration preserves freshness and acidity. It will be excellent with red meats, roasts, and duck, but the range of pairings is actually very wide.
Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective—we're talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-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.
BB Bobal Red 2020
With BB Bobal, Partida Creus delivers a vibrant and unique interpretation of this little-known Spanish grape variety. This natural red, from old vines cultivated in Catalonia, seduces with its vibrant freshness, intense fruit, and wild finesse.
A natural wine at heart
Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, founders of Partida Creus, are artisans of natural wine. Based in Bonastre, in the Baix Penedès, they are revitalizing ancient vineyards using a completely biodynamic, manual approach, and without oenological inputs. Here, the Bobal expresses all the typical characteristics of Catalan soils, thanks to a respectful vinification process that magnifies its original character.
An aromatic explosion and beautiful tension on the palate
To the eye, BB Bobal 2020 reveals a dark cherry red color with deep highlights. On the nose, it charms with its captivating floral bouquet, evoking English candy, violet and thyme, on a background of fresh red fruits. On the palate, the attack is juicy and dynamic. We find morello cherry and ripe plum, enhanced by a fine touch of black pepper and a saline finish that brings freshness and length. The balance between intense fruitiness, straightforward acidity, and elegant tannic structure makes this a wine as distinguished as it is accessible.
Food and wine pairings and tasting moments
Served well chilled, between 14 and 16°C, BB Bobal is perfect with Iberian tapas and delicatessen meats or a mature cheese. Its silky structure and aromatic brightness also make it an ideal companion to a lamb grill, a mildly spiced tagine, or roast poultry. A vibrant and festive wine, to drink now or let evolve for a few years.
Kapitel 1 Red 2017
Christian Tschida
Deep, dark, and earthy, this wine pioneered the practice of dense, full-bodied reds at Christian's estate, hence its name "Chapter One." Made from Cabernet Franc as the main grape variety and destemmed and foot-crushed Zweigelt, it is aged for two years in foudres and bottled without sulfur or filtration. Incredible finesse, spicy and peppery notes, for an unconventional but dazzling take on Cabernet Franc.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Esprit Attila Red 2018
Anthony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winegrower, in other words, a wine merchant whose scope 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 of love at first sight, and each of these loves 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 include such a variety of grape varieties: the whole of southern France is there with muscat, grenache, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and tutti quanti.
Esprit Attila is made up of sixty percent carignan (one hundred and thirteen year old vines) and forty percent syrah. These two grape varieties are harvested on the ferruginous clay-limestone soils of Lagrasse, in the Corbières. Vinification, in whole bunches, is done in separate grape varieties for ninety days in quasi-infusion before blending, followed by aging in concrete vats for a year and a second aging of one year in bottles, like a great Spanish red. The nose is immediately very aromatic and we find in abundance the characters of the two grape varieties: blueberry, blackcurrant, black olive… The palate is full, delicious, extremely fresh and typical of its vintage, with notes of violet.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Garnata Red 2010
A smooth, characterful wine. Aromas of crushed wild blackberries like cocoa. High-altitude Grenache.
This Grenache comes from a plot planted between 1,300 and 1,368 meters above sea level on slate and schist soils. The destemmed harvest macerates in stainless steel vats. Alcoholic fermentation occurs spontaneously using native yeasts present in the environment, without any additives. The fermentation temperature is not altered: the coolness of autumn nights is sufficient (the winery is also at an altitude of 1,280 meters). Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in barrels during aging in the underground cellar.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Crucella Red 2020,
La Vinicola di Antonio Gismondi
Crucella is known for its undergrowth, mineral, and earthy nose, a lively and acidic attack on the palate, red fruits, cherry on the retro-olfaction, and tannins less present than the deep color would suggest. Certainly a good wine for laying down that will blossom with time. The only red from the estate, it is a beautiful blend of Merlot (33%), Sangiovese (34%), and the ancient local grape variety Freisa (33%), which imparts a slight hint of musky red fruit, but the overall wine is well balanced. The harvest macerates for five or six days in stainless steel vats, then the wine is aged for seven to ten months in the same type of vat.
Find out more
Antonio Gismondi's azienda is located in Cerreto Sanita, in the Benevento region of Campania. A microclimate gives this area an almost continental feel: humid winds from the Tyrrhenian Sea collide with the first ramparts of the Apennine mountain range, causing condensation in the air and lowering temperatures, which are significantly cooler and more humid than on the coast. If we add a temperature inversion phenomenon between day and night, which is common in the Apennine climate, the freshness of the wines from the Antonio Gismondi estate is nothing mysterious in this southern Italy, which is nevertheless known for its very hot climate. The estate is family-run: for generations, the Gismondi family has cultivated vines and made wine using the most traditional and natural methods, to which biodynamic techniques are added. For a long time, of the fifteen tons of grapes produced each year, one ton was reserved for on-site winemaking for family consumption, with the rest going to the local wine cooperative. It was their meeting with Massimo Marchiori and Antonella of Partida Creus that led Antonio and his wife Anabel to start producing natural wines at home from the entire harvest. The two-hectare vineyard is located between 350 and 380 meters above sea level, on clay and stony soils, with two-thirds facing south. The grape varieties are Merlot, Freisa and Sangiovese for the reds, and Falanghina and Malvasia di Candia for the whites.x
Kikiriki Black Red 2018
Elegance, purity, and a crisp minerality due to the limestone characterize the productions of Clos Lentiscus. The note of controlled oxidation, when present, does not dominate the tasting, and the wines are never deviant. The cavas are renowned for their exuberance, but those from Clos Lentiscus never have more than two grams of residual sugar per liter. The estate also produces still wines, red, white, and rosé.
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This Cocorico (in Catalan) is a red made from a blend of Tempranillo and Cariñena (Carignan). Aromatic and light, it comes in a one-liter bottle and is not a luxury: this distinguished gurgle, at the table and as an aperitif, will go well with everything. A very good wine for tapas and al fresco dining.
It is in Sitges, Catalonia, in the heart of the Garraf Natural Park, that Manel Avinyo and his brother Joan took over the family estate, renamed Clos Lentiscus by Manel. Even though Barcelona is only a half-hour drive away, the beauty of the landscape is striking and the immersion in nature is total: Mediterranean forests rub shoulders with Catalan scrubland (thyme, rosemary, rockrose, mastic tree which gave its name to the estate, etc.). The Penedès region also has a long winemaking history. Nestled in its gentle hills is Clos Lentiscus, in the Penedés appellation, on twenty hectares of sandy and clay-limestone soils facing due south at an altitude of 225 meters. According to historical documents, the family of Manel and Joan Avinyo has been established there since at least the 14th century. For a long time, the grapes were sold to local cooperatives, but since the two brothers took over the estate, organic and biodynamic farming has replaced conventional practices, the entire harvest goes into the house vintages, and organic and biodynamic practices have allowed this beautiful property to reconnect with its former prestige: in the 19th century, its wines were sold in France and as far away as the Americas. Manel quickly earned a nickname: The Bubbleman, a tribute to his talent for making cavas, the sparkling white wines characteristic of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, from native varieties that only Catalonia has the secret to: sumoll, ull de llebre, xarel·lo, malvasia from Sitges, cartoixà vermell, cariñena (carignan), accompanied by tempranillo and muscat from Alexandria. The vines are old, sometimes centuries old. No synthetic additives are used in the vineyard, and operations such as planting, pruning, de-budding, and harvesting are dictated by the lunar phases. Pollination is facilitated by the presence of beehives; sheep contribute to fertilization and control of the plant cover. Ringo, the white horse, is responsible for working the soil.
Lune Rayée Red 2020,
Lune Rayée, vintage 2020, is a natural red wine from the Pic-Épeiche estate (Haut-Layon, Anjou), produced traditionally and entirely by hand by Jean-Baptiste Peltier. It is made from Cabernet Franc (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) planted in the same plot on clay-limestone soil.
Vinification
Lune Rayée was made without any additives in the vineyard, except for a little Bordeaux mixture as needed, and without sulfites added during vinification. Semicarbonic maceration (13 days) is followed by a long fermentation in vats using indigenous yeasts. Aging, at Domaine Pic-Épeiche, is done on lees for eleven months, with passage through a vertical press in between.
Tasting
The color of Lune Rayée 2020 is bright, clear, limpid, a beautiful transparent coral red. The palate is intensely sapid, fruity, and one would speak of gurgling if it weren't for a minerality that gives structure and a remarkably saline finish, as well as the touch of bitterness typical of Cabernet. Lune Rayée 2020 from Domaine Pic-Épeiche is easy to drink yet intense, full of red fruits—fresh strawberry—, an energizing sensation of fresh fruit and a beautiful length. It is a wine without additives, deceptively simple, that will be able to measure up to the finest cuisine - such as a rabbit stew of first quality - as well as local charcuterie and salted meats. Seafood rillettes will suit it like a glove. Best enjoyed chilled.
Learn more about Domaine Pic-Épeiche
Entirely natural, produced in a traditional, artisanal manner, Domaine Pic-Épeiche is located in Haut-Layon, in Anjou. It is run by Jean-Baptiste Peltier, who learned the trade from Jérôme Lambert and Patrick Desplats: another fine example of a natural, non-interventionist wine estate in this Loire region where there are many.
In the vineyard and in the cellar
No intervention, but a lot of vigilance: "We work with the grapes," says Jean-Baptiste about his natural wines. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin and Grolleau, all from old vines, cultivated and vinified without additives. Macerations are short but aging is long, almost a year in vats, entirely on lees.
The style
All the freshness and liveliness of the clay-limestone soils are intact in the wines of the Pic-Épeiche estate, which offer the full typicity of the Anjou terroirs worked naturally. Red and white wines are fruity and flavorful, offering a lively and nuanced expression of the local grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Chenin.
Régnié la haute ronze Red 2017
La Haute Ronze is one of two plots cultivated by Nicolas in the Régnié appellation; it is considered of very high quality, with deep clay soils that produce full-bodied wines. This 100% Gamay is obtained through semi-carbonic maceration and aged for approximately twenty months (half in barrels, half in stainless steel vats). It offers notes of leather, earth, and Mediterranean herbs (oregano, rosemary), through its red fruits.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
GT Ancestral Sparkling Red 2018
Partida Creus
A Catalan cousin of Mourvèdre, the Garrut grape variety forms the basis of this dazzling wine, which revisits the classic sparkling wine in a black fruit way: intense, bright, earthy, completely atypical, even a little cracked, reminiscent of the best of Lambrusco. A perfect companion for Ibérico bellota ham, fine chorizos, and all high-end cured meats, as well as pâtés, terrines, and spicy dishes. It evokes the family vine, artisanal production, and free wine.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Le Zudefruit Red 2021
Delicious, delectable, a real pleasure, this Zudefruit from Jérôme Lambert, an organic and natural winemaker based in the Loire Valley, in the Layon region. A beautiful dark red color, with aromas of red fruits on the nose; on the palate, it is very supple, lively, and deep, with herbaceous notes and a real delicacy with hints of cherry and undergrowth. With a beautiful balance between fruity notes and earthy, spicy, peppery notes, Zudefruit is a natural wine from the Loire Valley, produced from a plot of Grolleau cultivated by Jérôme Lambert on the light, sandy, schistose soils found in southern Anjou. The harvest, carried out by hand, ferments in whole bunches for two weeks before pressing, then rests for nine months in fiberglass vats. To further explore the red wines of the Loire Valley, you can also look at the domaines La Grapperie or the Domaine Pic-Épeiche.
Learn more about Jérôme Lambert
On his four-hectare estate, entirely organic and planted with Chenin, Grolleau, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, Jérôme Lambert is as much a winemaker as he is a farmer: he raises chickens, pigs, sheep and takes this mixed crop-livestock activity very seriously, along with the production of typical Anjou charcuterie. His Loire Eden, in fact, is located in the south of Anjou, in Rablay-sur-Layon. The son of a winemaker, as a child, he already enjoyed picking grapes, crushing them, and letting them ferment. In 2003, he got his hands dirty, helping with the pruning of the vines at Philippe Cesbron's and practicing with a few grapes donated by local winemakers. The following year, his adventure truly began with twenty ares of vines, but while his estate grew year by year, it would only reach one hectare after fifteen years.
A journey towards nature
In 2003, Jérôme discovered that adding sulfites was detrimental to wines: he never added more and was satisfied with the result, without making too much of a fuss about it. It was only a little later that he learned about the existence of natural wines and understood that he was not alone. All his vintages since then have been natural, without added sulfites, and are nonetheless straightforward, drinkable and flawless. For him, even the wood of the barrels is an additive; this shows the attention he pays to the naturalness and truth of the vine.
