Still Wines

SP Blanc 2019

Partida Creus
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 found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. On their part, it’s not just a matter of saving heritage, no: it’s a matter of taste and nature. Natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravelly, poor and poorly irrigated lands, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. There are also Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single varietals 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 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.
The parent Subirat, one of the oldest Catalan grape varieties and a close relative of Malvasia, remains rare even in its country of origin. The clay-limestone soil reinforces its freshness and uprightness. The harvest is pressed after a three-day skin maceration. The must is settled and fermented using indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats. It rests for three months in vats on fine lees before bottling. This wine is crisp and aromatic, with a nose of ripe white fruits, melon, and wildflowers. Agile on the palate, fresh and straightforward, lemony and slightly saline, with a long finish tinged with a delicate bitterness typical of the estate.

Combe du Temps Blanc 2019,

Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
This estate is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of Cathar Country. Stretching from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, and rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the Font Juvénal area, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and coolness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is decided based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
Sixty percent Chenin, twenty percent Sémillon, and twenty percent Roussanne: this is the blend that makes up the white cuvée of La Combe du Temps. A blend that traces a geographical triangle between Chenin, more associated with the Loire, Sémillon from the Southwest, and Roussanne from the Southeast. All three are fermented naturally, using indigenous yeasts, before aging for nine months in old barrels. No sulfites are added. Delicious and expressive, it is lively and dry with a lovely nuance of melted wood. The elegance and slightly rich note are traits found in all the whites from this estate. Its balance will delight everyone and give it access to numerous flavor pairings.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Without a prescription White 2020,

Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
This estate is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of Cathar Country. Stretching from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, and rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the Font Juvénal area, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and coolness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is decided based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
The Sans ordonnance white cuvée is made from sixty percent Muscat à Petit Grain and forty percent Viognier. Fermentation takes place naturally in stainless steel vats without fining or filtration, and aging is nine months in old barrels. The nose is fine, complex, exotic without excess: the musky notes of Muscat à Petit Grain are initially very discreet and then develop in the glass. The aroma unfolds on the palate with very controlled notes of ripeness, wisteria, honey candy, and yellow peach. The freshness is wonderful, tempered by a little fat. A delicious and expressive wine.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Marguerite Red 2019

Domaine Bois Moisset

The Marguerite 2019 from Domaine Bois Moisset is a true immersion in the winemaking heritage of the southwest. Made from Duras, a native grape variety of Gaillac, it reveals all the richness and intensity of this ancestral terroir. Made from vines 15 to 30 years old, planted on sandy loam and clayey gravel from the Tarn terraces, this natural wine is the result of a respectful approach to the vine and the soil.

The vinification follows a minimalist logic: destemmed harvest, three-week maceration in cement vats without added sulfites, and low-temperature fermentation to preserve the fruit's brightness. Aging continues in cement vats until bottling, carried out without filtration and with a tiny dose of sulfur to stabilize the wine while preserving its raw and lively character.

With an intense and clear garnet color, Marguerite 2019 offers an expressive nose, dominated by notes of sweet and spicy spices (cinnamon, black pepper), ripe black fruits, and violet. On the palate, it is a structured, ample, and fresh wine, driven by a beautiful natural acidity that balances its rich body. The tannins are supple yet present, extending into a spicy and slightly licorice-laced finish.

Best enjoyed between 16 and 18°C, this vibrant red is the perfect accompaniment to rib of beef, a prune tagine, or a game terrine. Decanting will allow it to reveal all its complexity.

Rosado Cosecha Rosadito Rosé 2019

Bodegas Coruña del Conde
Natural wine without added sulphites.

Morgon mc2 Rouge 2017,

Nicolas Chemarin
MC2 is the result of blending two plots of Morgon (Corcelette and Les Charmes) planted with forty-year-old Gamay grapes, on sandy and schist soils with a subsoil of clay and decomposed rock. The harvest ferments in whole bunches in concrete vats for twenty days, and the wine is aged for ten months in neutral oak: the result is a dense, dark Beaujolais, very mineral, and long-lasting. This fruity and structured wine can age for another five or six years, but it is already perfect.

Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Saint Romain Sous le Chateau clos du cerisier White 2018,

Domaine de Chassorney

This Chardonnay comes from a steep plot located between 280 and 400 meters above sea level. The soils are mainly marl, limestone, and clay. After direct pressing, aging is approximately one year in barrels.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Mercurey Les Vignes Blanches Red 2018,

Frédéric Cossard

Frédéric Cossard has created a superb expression of Mercurey, an emblematic appellation of the Côte Chalonnaise. Les Vignes Blanches 2018, made from Pinot Noir grown on clay-limestone soils, offers an intense and elegant interpretation of this Burgundian terroir. A natural, full-bodied, and ample wine that brilliantly combines power and finesse.

A sunny vintage and gentle vinification

2018 was a generous year in Burgundy, with ideal conditions for perfectly ripe grapes. True to his philosophy of zero-additive vinification, Frédéric Cossard uses whole-bunch maceration, thus preserving all the aromatic purity of the fruit. Aging takes place for one year in a concrete egg, promoting subtle micro-oxygenation and harmonious development of aromas without excessive wood degradation.

A tasting marked by depth and finesse

Les Vignes Blanches 2018 reveals a captivating nose where aromas of morello cherries, ripe black fruits and fine roasted notes. The palate is dense, with a full attack and a beautiful sap that gives it depth. The tannins are present but very fine, offering a beautiful length and a remarkable balance between structure and freshness. Food pairings and tasting moments This Mercurey is a gastronomic wine, perfect for roasted and grilled meats, roast duck, or a beautiful grilled rib-eye steak. It will also be a perfect accompaniment to a beef fillet in a crust or game birds. Served between 16 and 18°C, it can be enjoyed now for its vibrant fruit or aged for a few years to develop more complex notes.

Alberto López Calvo - Vino Tinto (Red) 2009

Bodegas Coruña del Conde
Alberto López Calvo, the estate's historic Bordeaux-style cuvées are made with Tempranillo (75%), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Merlot (5%). These are beautiful wines with an intense garnet red color, elegant, complex, deep, and silky, with well-integrated tannins.

Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Variette Red 2018

Domaine Fond Cyprès

A blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault: a full-bodied red with aromas of garrigue, blackcurrant, and blackberry. Pairs well with red wine stews: beef stew, gardianne, beef bourguignon, coq au vin, as well as roast red meats. Ideal with poached pears.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Tonton Red 2014

Vincent Wallard

This 100% Cabernet Franc comes from Vincent Wallard's Loire winery. Produced from clay-limestone soils, the grapes are vinified using a mille-feuille process (skin-on maceration using layers of destemmed grapes and whole bunches to control the astringency of the tannins) before aging for twenty months. Excellent with red meats and wild mushrooms (particularly porcini mushrooms), it can be aged for twenty years.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Musk White 2012

Bodega Barranco Oscuro

This single-varietal Muscat wine comes from a plot planted at an altitude of 1,300 meters on schist and clay soils. The wine is aged for ten months in old barrels.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Samos Blanc 1958, Samos Cooperative

Sous le végétal

Here's a gem, a real gem. The Samos Cooperative is one of the oldest wine cooperatives in Greece, supplying all of Europe with sweet Muscat for several centuries. It has preserved this masterpiece, this sweet white made from Muscat Petit Grain harvested and vinified on the island, for sixty-five solid years, which is why it takes on the appearance of a red. This is because it is very old and its color has evolved over time, from amber gold to dark mahogany. Normal. Sumptuously aged and patinated, caressed by time, it is endowed with an uncommon aromatic power. This great cuvée for laying down has all the virtues of a very old sweet wine: vibrant, sweet and saline, superbly fresh, with a beautiful aromatic structure and great length. This meditation wine, which reveals all the authenticity of the island's mineral and volcanic terroir, is a perfect example of what time can do to a great muscat. It was on the occasion of the Sous le Végétal project that this nugget without additives, added sulfites or any other additives was offered to us by the Samos Cooperative. It was this same wine, if you refer to the history of the project, that inspired Jason Ligas with the idea.

Learn more

Beneath the vegetation lies the mineral: such is the meaning of this concept of natural cuvées created in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team of friends gathered around winemakers Jason Ligas and Patrick Bouju. The successful venture marks a renaissance of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the North Aegean Sea, which owes its dense, wooded vegetation to various nicknames received in Antiquity, from Dryoussa ("covered with oaks") to Kyparissia ("covered with cypresses"), by way of Melamphyllos ("Dark-leaved"). This natural wealth covers a unique and varied subsoil: volcanic rocks and notably basalts, limestone, quartz, pink granites, schists, iron cast irons… The idea was born from Jason’s meeting with the Samos Wine Cooperative. Patrick Bouju soon joined the project. The five vintages of Sous le Végétal — Livia, Hüpnos, Octave, Palli & Genesia, Alexandre and Auguste — are produced on around sixty plots of Samos Muscat à petits grains (as well as Avgoustiatis for the red vintage and Asyrtiko for Alexandre), between 400 and 910 meters above sea level. Each plot is vinified separately. For vinification, four types of containers are used: amphorae, concrete eggs, stainless steel vats and 500-liter barrels. Each lieu-dit is vinified in at least two of the four containers and the aging takes place in black bottles sealed with wax. No sulfur is added, no filtration: the winemakers of Samos rediscover wine as it was made in their childhood. This is one of the wonders of natural wine: it allows, through the most innovative projects, to reconnect with forgotten traditions. Sous le Végétal also takes under its wing the A la Natural cuvées signed Patrick Bouju, without forgetting the 1958 vintage Muscat of Samos which inspired the project to the winemakers.

Les Ponts Blancs 2014, Yann Durieux
Les Pont Blancs 2014 by Yann Durieux is a structured Burgundy wine with a certain acidic structure and notes of exotic fruits.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Sémélé (exclusive vintage) Rosé 2023,

Sous le Végétal

With Sémélé 2023, Sous le Végétal revisits the notion of rosé by offering a cuvée halfway between a light red and a structured rosé. A bold blend of 50% Avgoustatis macerated for a week and 50% Muscat Petit Grain pressed directly, it reveals beautiful aromatic intensity and vibrant acidity.

A rosé off the beaten track

This wine is distinguished by its deep, vivid color, revealing its structure and aromatic intensity. The short maceration of Avgoustatis gives it fine tannins and a nice length on the palate.

A fruity nose and a balanced palate

The nose explodes with notes of strawberry, raspberry and crisp red fruits. On the palate, the attack is fresh, the structure light but persistent, with a tangy and dynamic finish.

How to enjoy Sémélé?

At 10-12°C and decanted before tasting, Sémélé will accompany summer grills, Mediterranean dishes and soft cheeses. With an aging potential of more than 10 years, it will gain complexity with time.

Munjebel Red 2022,

Frank Cornelissen

The traditional essence of Etna in an iconic cuvée
The Munjebel 2022, a pure Nerello Mascalese, is a true ode to the unique terroirs of the northern Etna valley. Made with grapes from the estate's best plots (Zottorinoto-Chiusa Spagnolo, Feudo di Mezzo-Sottana, Porcaria) and from vineyards selected for this cuvée (Rampante Sottana, Piano Daini, and Crasà), this wine reflects Frank Cornelissen's vision of a balanced, traditional, and rich wine. Vinified in destemmed maceration for one month and aged briefly in vats, it combines freshness and maturity.

A rich and spicy Nerello Mascalese
The Munjebel 2022 seduces with its bright and deep ruby ​​color. On the nose, it reveals captivating aromas of spices, ripe red fruits and a minerality typical of basalt soils. On the palate, it impresses with its elegant structure and fine tannins, perfectly balanced by a fruity sweetness and vibrant freshness. The finish, long and harmonious, leaves a spicy and slightly saline imprint, characteristic of the great wines of Etna. Best enjoyed between 14 and 16°C, after decanting to express all its richness.

A gastronomic wine par excellence
This generous and balanced red is the ideal companion to grilled or sauced red meats, Mediterranean-flavored stews and mature cheeses. It fits perfectly into a gourmet meal, enhancing each bite with its aromatic complexity.

With extended aging potential, the Munjebel 2022 stands out as a classic and masterful interpretation of Nerello Mascalese, rooted in tradition and enhanced by Cornelissen's expertise.

Cinsauriel Red 2021

Jean Louis Pinto

Cinsauriel is an organic and natural red wine from the Languedoc region, produced by Jean-Louis Pinto of the Es d’Aqui estate. 100% Cinsault, classified as Vin de France, it comes from the schist soils of Berlou, near Saint-Chinian.

Vinification

Cinsauriel is obtained by fermentation with indigenous yeasts and a month of maceration of the whole bunches in sandstone jars, the container where the aging also takes place.

Tasting

Beautiful bright ruby color, nose of pepper, rose and strawberry, accents of garrigue, candied black olive and prune. Lively and powerful, Cinsauriel is a robust and distinguished wine. It calls for solid foods: beef, roast pork, roast poultry such as chicken, capon or duck. He also enjoys charcuterie and cured meats.

Learn more about Jean-Louis Pinto and the Es d’Aqui estate

A child of Ariège, Jean-Louis Pinto chose to stay in the country and make wines that resemble their terroir, hence the name Es d’Aqui (“He is from here”) that he gave to his wine merchant estate, located in Moulin-Neuf, a town near the Aude, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century.

Winemaker and merchant

Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by winegrower friends. He monitors the fruit set, the ripening, and does everything to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies them at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations on whole bunches and very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga).

All the terroirs of Languedoc

Jean-Louis Pinto's collection area extends throughout Languedoc, particularly in Hérault, Aude, and Tarn. "I make wines from the South," he says. "I'm mainly looking for terroirs that give freshness." The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline quality."

La barrique du chat botté Red 2017

Lindenlaub

Bright, savory, fresh, and deep, this wine goes down fast. This Cuvée du Chat is a still red wine made from Alsace Pinot Noir, cultivated and vinified by Christophe Lindenlaub. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Sempel and Thomen plots, facing south on the Stierkopf terroir. These plots contain the oldest Pinot Noir vines on the Lindenlaub estate. The clay-limestone soil on a sandstone substrate refines and accentuates the wine's clarity, giving it a straightforward personality and plenty of character. The grapes spend two weeks in maceration tanks to extract their color, then age in stainless steel tanks. This vintage comes from the Lindenlaub estate via the Parisian-Burgundian wine merchant Le Chat botté & Co, which selects beautiful bottles each year for its “La Barrique du Chat botté” series, illustrated with a collector’s label.

Find out more

Christophe Lindenlaub succeeds his father Jacques at the head of their twelve-hectare wine estate, cultivated by their family for almost three centuries. Viticulture there dates back two centuries, the activity previously being mixed. The Lindenlaub estate is located in the village of Dorlisheim, near Molsheim and Mutzig, on splendid clay-limestone terroirs on sandstone bedrock. All the classic Alsatian grape varieties are cultivated, and all types of Alsace wines are produced, from still red or white wines to oxidative wines, pet' nat', sweet late harvest wines, crémant, and maceration wines. Christophe's commitment to making wines as close to nature as possible, with complete respect for the terroir, gradually led him to convert the estate—certified organic since 2012—to natural viticulture and vinification. A testament to this goal is the Ensö range, six natural single-varietal cuvées, under the sign of the Chinese ink circle specific to Zen mysticism. This series, Christophe explains, was born from a quest for personal fulfillment and the desire to impart an extra touch of soul to his wines.

Les Poupettes Red 2022,

Clos des B

A remarkably bright color and an equally brilliant aromatic palette! Produced in the Vin de France category and under the Écocert organic label, Les Poupettes is an organic and natural red made from 100% Grenache with no added sulfites, sourced from the Grimaud terroir in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. It is the result of a three-week carbonic maceration of the destemmed harvest in a closed stainless steel vat. No sulfites are added, either during vinification or bottling. Les Poupettes offers beautiful aromas of fresh fruit on the nose: raspberry, cherry, but also plenty of minerality due to the schist sands. The finesse of Grenache with a touch of flint that fits well into the overall picture. A round and delicious palate, plenty of freshness and an incredible rich and brilliant grenadine color.

Why “Les Poupettes”?

Under this pretty name, dedicated to the six granddaughters of Jean-Jacques Granger, nicknamed “the poupettes,” here is a magnificent glouglou, a true gift from the schist terroir of Grimaud, in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Les Poupettes is a light, pleasant, easy-drinking wine, a cuvée that demonstrates the decision to reduce deliberate extraction as much as possible. You can pair it with a good piece of roast pork, for example a fillet or a rack of Black Pork of Bigorre/Collectif Padouen.

Learn more about Clos des B

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