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1723 products
1723 products
Munjebel CS Red 2021,
An immersion in an exceptional volcanic terroir
The Munjebel CS 2021 is a captivating interpretation of Nerello Mascalese, from an ungrafted vineyard located in the Zottorinoto contrada, more precisely in the single plot of Chiusa Spagnolo. Nestled in a natural lava amphitheater and planted in 1925 at an altitude of 620 meters, this exceptional vineyard produces a wine that is both deep and tannic, offering a distinct personality, reminiscent of the nobility of Nebbiolo wines.
A powerful and racy red
The dark ruby color of the Munjebel CS 2021 already announces its depth. The nose opens with intense spicy aromas, mixed with notes of ripe red fruits and a saline minerality specific to basalt soils. On the palate, this wine reveals an imposing structure with firm but elegant tannins, a beautiful liveliness and a complexity marked by a long finish on spicy and mineral nuances. Serve between 14 and 16°C after decanting to appreciate all its richness.
A companion for fine dining
Perfect for enhancing grilled or stewed red meat dishes, this wine also brilliantly accompanies Mediterranean dishes rich in flavor. Its depth and character make it an ideal choice for gourmet meals, where it will reveal all its finesse and power.
With extended aging potential, the Munjebel CS 2021 embodies the excellence of Etna wines, uniting tradition, terroir and mastery in a masterful cuvée that will seduce lovers of natural and expressive wines.
Munjebel FM Red 2021,
A rare elegance from the volcanic terroirs of Etna
The Munjebel FM 2021, 100% Nerello Mascalese, is a great natural wine from Etna, born from the contrada Feudo di Mezzo, one of the most fascinating terroirs in the region. Produced from vines grown at an altitude of 580 meters on deep basalt soils, this wine is distinguished by its rare elegance and remarkable finesse. Frank Cornelissen chose to separate the lower plots (sottana) from the upper plots (Porcaria), revealing unique characteristics for each micro-terroir.
Finesse and freshness at the rendezvous
The bright ruby color of the Munjebel FM 2021 invites discovery. The nose expresses itself delicately, revealing fresh aromas of crisp red fruits, subtle floral notes and a minerality characteristic of volcanic soils. On the palate, this wine seduces with its exceptional balance: vibrant freshness, supple tannins and a silky texture reminiscent of great Burgundy wines. The finish is persistent, carried by elegant nuances and a hint of salinity. Served between 14 and 16°C after decanting, it reveals all its complexity and refinement.
A red for fine dining
Perfect to accompany delicate red meats, such as beef fillet or duck breast, this wine will also enhance Mediterranean dishes or sophisticated recipes with complex flavors.
With extended aging potential, the Munjebel FM 2021 represents a masterful expression of Nerello Mascalese, combining finesse, freshness, and depth. A must-have cuvée for lovers of great natural reds.
Munjebel VA Red 2021,
The Volcanic Elegance of Etna
Frank Cornelissen's Munjebel VA 2021 is an immersion into the soul of Sicilian volcanic terroirs. This 100% Nerello Mascalese comes from old, ungrafted vines rooted in unique basalt soils at an altitude of 640 meters on the Contrada Porcaria. This blend of Etna's highest vineyards – Tartaraci, Rampante Soprana, and Barbabecchi – produces a wine of remarkable precision, often described as the most Burgundian of the estate's vintages.
A wine of exceptional depth
To the eye, this red displays a clear, brilliant ruby color, announcing its finesse. The nose reveals complex aromas of sweet spices, undergrowth, and intense volcanic minerality. On the palate, it impresses with its silky structure, vibrant freshness, and elegant tannins, perfectly balanced by beautiful acidity. The length on the palate is remarkable, marked by spicy notes and a touch of salinity, a signature of Etna's volcanic soils. Serve between 14 and 16°C, after decanting to reveal all its aromatic richness.
A gastronomic companion of choice
Perfect for refined meals, the Munjebel VA 2021 pairs ideally with roasted red meats, game in sauce or even Mediterranean dishes rich in flavor. This great wine from Etna also offers a unique experience when paired with mature cheeses of character.
With an aging potential of several years, this 2021 vintage embodies the excellence and unique character of Frank Cornelissen's wines, combining power and elegance in an authentic expression of Nerello Mascalese.
Munjebel CR Red 2021,
A jewel of Etna from Campo Re
The Munjebel CR 2021, pure Nerello Mascalese, is an exceptional cuvée that expresses all the uniqueness of the Campo Re vineyard. Located at the entrance to Randazzo, at an altitude of 735 meters, this partially ungrafted plot is one of the most westerly in the Etna Valley. The deep volcanic soils, demanding in wet vintages, give rise to a complex, structured wine full of character.
A refined and authentic tasting
This 2021 vintage has a dark and vibrant ruby color. The nose reveals delicate aromas of fresh strawberry, enhanced by spicy nuances and a minerality typical of basalt soils. On the palate, Munjebel CR offers an imposing structure with powerful yet harmonious tannins. The natural freshness of Nerello Mascalese perfectly balances this depth, leading to a long and persistent finish marked by fruity and mineral notes. Serve between 14 and 16°C, after decanting to reveal its full breadth.
A wine for fine dining
This red from Etna pairs perfectly with grilled or sauced red meats, stews, or even hearty Mediterranean recipes. Its power and finesse make it ideal for gourmet meals, where it will brilliantly accompany dishes with character.
With extended aging potential, Munjebel CR 2021 is a majestic expression of Nerello Mascalese, combining depth, freshness, and complexity. An essential vintage for lovers of great volcanic reds.
Munjebel CD Red 2021,
A volcanic grand cru from Calderara Sottana
The Munjebel CD 2021, produced by Frank Cornelissen, is an intense and refined expression of Nerello Mascalese, the emblematic grape variety of Etna. Sourced from a single plot located at an altitude of 600 meters in the contrada Calderara Sottana, this wine reflects all the richness and complexity of the basalt soils. Vinified in destemmed maceration for one month and aged for one year in vats, it embodies a perfect balance between power and elegance.
A spicy and captivating tasting
To the eye, this red reveals a deep ruby color, testifying to its concentration. The nose opens with complex aromas of warm spices, ripe red fruits and subtle mineral notes. On the palate, the Munjebel CD 2021 seduces with its solid structure, supple tannins and balancing freshness. The long and spicy finish leaves a mineral and saline imprint, a signature of the volcanic terroir. Serve between 14 and 16°C, after decanting to reveal all its aromatic richness.
A companion to dishes with character
This great natural red is ideally suited to grilled red meats, stews or Mediterranean dishes rich in flavor. Its depth and complexity also make it a valuable ally for gourmet dinners where it will enhance dishes with character.
With extended aging potential, the Munjebel CD 2021 is a masterful cuvée, combining the strength of the Etna terroir and the expertise of Cornelissen to offer an unforgettable tasting experience.
Les Vignes du Cheney Blanc 2022
Jean-Yves Péron
Les Vignes du Cheney is a dry white wine from Savoie, organic, biodynamic, and natural, produced by Jean-Yves Péron with the help of his collaborator Marc Payan. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a blend of numerous grape varieties.
Vinification
The harvest for these Vignes du Cheney includes Altesse, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Gewurztraminer, and Mondeuse, growing on limestone and schist soils. The Cinsault is directly pressed, and the other grape varieties undergo three weeks of carbonic maceration. Aging takes place in 300-liter barrels.
Tasting
Les Vignes du Cheney is a cocktail of grape varieties, complex, rich and fruity. Light, easy to drink, low in alcohol, it will go very well with fish, cheese, white meats and poultry.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron talentedly embodies the organic, biodynamic and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Casa Rossa Red 2022
Casa Rossa, a red or rather rosé wine leaning towards red, is none other than the Italian version of Vers la Maison rouge, a Savoyard cuvée by Jean-Yves Péron. It is an organic, biodynamic, and natural wine made from three grape varieties: Grignolino, Freisa, and Barbera.
Vinification
The organic grapes that make up Casa Rossa are harvested in Casale Monferrato, in Piedmont. The Barbera and Freisa undergo direct pressing, and the Grignolino undergoes carbonic maceration with a two-month cap-punching. The three grape varieties are blended before a year of aging in 300-liter barrels. This period is followed by a year of bottle aging.
Tasting
Jean-Yves Péron's Casa Rossa is a rosé that's not far from a red. The tangy Barbera grape brings liveliness; the Grignolino and Freisa (so named for their strong strawberry aromas) give a vinous side that makes Casa Rossa a beautiful winter wine, not a summer rosé. The wine is fruity, tangy, aromatic, and very delicious. It goes well on its own and with accompaniments (pasta, Italian dishes, etc.).
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his winery in Chevaline, in the Bauges region, he vinifies the grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers in Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his winemaking and aging experiences.
La Bottière White 2022
La Bottière, here in magnum format, is a dry white wine made from 100% organic and natural Jacquère grapes. It is vinified by Jean-Yves Péron in Savoie using the Jacquère grape variety and Vin de France.
Vinification
Various plots with mica-schist soils near Albertville, planted with old vines, among other things, produced Jean-Yves Péron's La Bottière cuvée. The grapes are harvested at the end of October and macerated for two weeks using carbonic maceration. Aging is one year in 300-liter barrels.
Tasting
This maceration wine offers a beautiful minerality and round, delicious notes of white fruits. In magnum format, it can be drunk now but will evolve for several more years.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron skillfully embodies the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies the grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow and steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, do not receive any synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Côte Pelée Red 2019
This splendid Côte Pelée cuvée, produced in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron, is a red wine classified as a Vin de France. A rare and precious bottle.
Vinification
Côte Pelée is made from century-old Mondeuse vines growing on mica-schist soils in Albertville. Only the finest grapes are selected to make this cuvée. The cap is punched down for two months and the grapes are aged for two years in barrels.
Tasting
A powerful, deep, and robust wine with notes of leather, black fruits, cherry, raspberry, and blackberry. A vintage that you will pair with the finest red meats and regional cuisine.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies the grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep surfaces, his mountain vines in micro-plots, worked by hand, receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers in Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his winemaking and aging experiences.
Vin de Lies White 2021/22 Magnum
Vin de Lies is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine that Jean-Yves Péron makes every two vintages in his Savoyard cellars. It is based on a winemaking practice that is little known outside the industry, but which produces a highly regarded wine. It is not usually sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a treat that the winemaker bestows upon us, in magnum format no less.
Vinification
The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita, Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne… After racking the barrels and aging vats from all his terroirs (Savoyard and Italian), Jean-Yves gathers all the lees in a single vat to obtain Vin de lies. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red becomes smoother, sweeter, and the white is less tense, rounder. Jean-Yves Péron has gathered here the lees from all his 2021 whites and some from 2022.
Tasting
“It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron of this Vin de lies. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. Pairings: goes with everything.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Munjebel MC Red 2014
Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel MC, an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine from Sicily, is produced by Frank Cornelissen. It is classified DOP (PDO) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Contrada Monte Colla, a very steep terraced plot, beautifully exposed to the sun and wind, directly opposite Mount Etna. We are pleased to offer this old vintage that showcases this wine at its peak of maturity and depth.
Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese vines, planted in 1946, grow on sandy-clay soil. The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottle. No fining, light filtration.
Tasting
Rich and powerful, yet elegant, Munjebel MC is a bit like the hermitage of Etna, and the depth and density of this wine are enhanced by its age. Intense color of a deep, saturated red, notes of red rose and wild red fruits. Body, richness and thickness, aromatic palate supported by a fresh acidity. Pair it with red meats and Mediterranean dishes. Try a black ham from Bigorre or a grilled or roasted wagyu.
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 can 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 "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 valley of Etna 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...
Dolce et Cabanon Rosé 2023
La Tribu Alonso
Dolce et Cabanon is an organic and natural rosé/red wine from Beaujolais, vinified without additives by Cyril Alonso in Marchampt and classified as a Vin de France. Like all of this winemaker's creations, it is a highly original wine, produced from his Conservatoire des vignes anciennes in the Rhône-Alpes region.
Vinification
Among Cyril Alonso's 140 grape varieties is Muscat Bleu, a cross between Muscat Garnier and dark blue skin. Each year, this grape variety is included in the blend of the Art Brut cuvée, but in 2023 its overabundant production prompted the winemaker to use it separately, as it risked overly influencing the cuvée. Cyril therefore used it as the main grape variety in Dolce et Cabanon, combining it with Gamay Vialla, a fruity and muscatel grape variety with a strong raspberry flavor. To complete the blend, he chose Red Globe, a pink American hybrid with pink juice, also very characteristic of raspberry and strawberry.
Tasting
All this makes Dolce et Cabanon a light red or a dark rosé, as desired, and a pure delicacy. A fruit bomb in the noble sense, an unconditional pleasure. Muscat, raspberry, delectable and refreshing, with exotic notes of guava, it is an aperitif wine to be enjoyed on its own, chilled, or with plump oysters, raw blue fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel), summer tapas or Japanese cuisine.
Learn more about Tribu Alonso
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, a naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of Beaujolais Vert. This two and a half hectare ampelothèque, which existed since 1952, then had 40 grape varieties. It currently contains 140. This unique location gives their particular style to Tribu Alonso wines. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.
A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by intact forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, in the vineyard as well as in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the vinification.
The wines
Complantation cuvées (and for good reason), the wines of Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The fermentation periods are short to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.
Retour des Hirondelles Red 2023
La Tribu Alonso
Retour des Hirondelles is an organic and natural red wine with no added sulfites, 100% Gamay, produced by Cyril Alonso in Marchampt, in the terroirs of Beaujolais Vert. Classified as a Vin de France, its name celebrates the return in 2023 of the swallows that had disappeared in 2015. The forest surrounding the estate is classified as a LPP refuge (bird protection), so the cultural precautions and concern for the environment of the Alonso Tribe have borne fruit.
Vinification
Thirty-one different Gamay varieties grow on a half-hectare plot on granite soils, and this Return of the Swallows contains them all. The grass cover is wild and the vines, aged from four to fifty years, are pruned in goblet form, cultivated using organic farming and agroforestry. The harvest, which is manual, is processed in free-run juice (the grapes give their juice under their own weight), without pressing, and ferments with indigenous yeasts without a starter culture. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation takes place in fiberglass vats. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard or the winery.
Tasting
Made solely from free-run juice, Le Retour des Hirondelles is an organic and natural wine of great clarity, very refreshing, very clear, with a beautiful acidity marked by citrus flavors. There are no phenolic traces and the tannins are very soft. Notes of kirsch cherry, clementine, candied orange peel. This wine will be perfect for an aperitif and to accompany all meals. Charcuterie, cured meats (especially Lyonnaise), lamb, everything suits it, and especially good times with friends.
Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.
A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.
The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.
Désirée Blanc 2007,
La Grapperie
La Désirée, classified as a Vin de France, is a dry white wine made from 100% organic and natural Chenin, cultivated and vinified by Renaud Guettier of the La Grapperie estate in the Coteaux du Loir region (Loire Valley).
Cultivation and Vinification
The Chenin grapes, aged between fifty and one hundred and fifteen years, grow on flint-clay soils on a limestone base at an altitude of 100 m. The grapes are pressed directly, and all the liquids are processed by gravity. The wine is aged for twenty-four months on lees in barrels in cellars dug out of the tuffeau stone.
Tasting and pairings
La Désirée is a wine that lives up to its name: you undress it with your eyes, it seduces with its nose of bitter almond, prolonged in the mouth by tenderly buttery notes, touches of white fruits and nuts, counterbalanced by a very clear acidity. This charming wine needs charming pairings: smoked fish, caviar, fresh or smoked scallops, or even fine oysters.
Learn more about Renaud Guettier and La Grapperie
In the Coteaux du Loir appellation, La Grapperie is the name of the estate of Renaud Guettier, who can be described as a master of Chenin, but also of Pineau d'Aunis, which is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Loire Valley.
The estate
Renaud's 60 hectares of vines, on the hillside, are protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are predominantly clay, flint, or sand. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the rest consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay and Grolleau. Some vines are more than a hundred years old.
Methods in the vineyard and in the winery
The entire estate is cultivated organically. The soils are worked and all viticultural interventions are manual, including the harvest, carried out at full maturity, which is reflected in the fullness and smoothness of the wines. For the reds, the Pineau d'Aunis is partially destemmed (depending on the plot) and the macerations are quite long, three to four weeks, with punching down, to promote aging potential. The wines are aged in barrels for between twelve and twenty-four months, then racked, blended and bottled without filtration. For the whites, the Chenins are pressed directly at low pressure then put into barrels with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months, malolactic included, and sometimes up to thirty-six months.
Pinot Noir Red 2022
Domaine Einhart
Pinot Noir—it's all in the title—is a red wine from the Alsatian terroir, organic (Ecocert and AB labels) and natural, made from Pinot Noir. Classified as AOC Alsace, it is a model of its kind, much fuller-bodied and robust than the average Alsatian Pinot Noir. A serious wine that makes you happy.
Vinification
The thirty-year-old Pinot Noirs from which this wine is made grow on the muschelkalk (shell limestone) terroirs of Dittelsberg-Albermohn and are harvested by hand, then destemmed. Maceration, using indigenous yeasts, takes place over two weeks. Aging for one year on fine lees, in demi-muids, precedes bottling without filtration. From the vine to the cellar, this wine was made without any chemical additives or added sulfites.
Tasting
The deep, purplish color of this Pinot Noir from the Einhart estate evokes black cherry: it is a velvety, ripe red, 100% Pinot Noir, with an intense, fragrant, and gently fruity aroma. The first nose is enhanced by aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry) with a hint of freshness blended into a light vanilla woodiness. The second nose is more open, with aromas of blood orange, bitter almond, and kirsch. On the palate, the small fruits are still there, supported by present but well-melted tannins, and lead to a velvety finish resting on a lovely freshness. Plenty of persistence and length. Decant to express all its finesse and grace, and serve with red meats, roasts, stews, charcuterie and cured meats.
Learn more about Domaine Einhart
In the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, Domaine Einhart is a ten-hectare family estate whose vines grow on the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, or shell limestone and oolitic limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone).
A family estate
Since 1990, Nicolas Einhart has been at the helm, now assisted by his son Théo. True to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without inputs, refusing harmful phytosanitary products, and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic (Ecocert and AB) since 2011. The estate produces white wines from maceration or direct pressing and a Pinot Noir red.
The best of Alsatian terroirs
Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the bunches, light punching down, and delicate pressing are characteristic of the estate, as well as the separate vinification of each terroir, aging on lees, and the absence of filtration before bottling. The wines are pure grapes, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of these very beautiful terroirs in the Vosges foothills.
Antenet Rosé, Rosé 2022,
Danis dans la vigne
Antenet rosé is an organic and natural Cahors wine, made by Danis Bessières of Danis dans la vigne. Classified as a Vin de France, it is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Egiodola.
Vinification
The technique used here is saignée rosé, which produces wines with a deep color. The Egiodola grape variety, which makes up half of this Antenet rosé, was created in 1954 at the INRA in Bordeaux by Basque agronomist Marcel Durquety. It produces fairly tannic, floral and intense wines, and makes it possible to obtain excellent rosés.
Tasting
Antenet rosé is atypical: it is not a poolside rosé but a table and gastronomy rosé, in addition to being a good aperitif wine. Its very dark color testifies to this. Rich in substance, it coats the mouth well and emits notes of citrus rather than flowers. It evokes blackcurrant, redcurrant, grapefruit pulp and orange peel. Rich and quite alcoholic, with great acidity. Pairs well with many dishes, not just summer salads.
Learn more about Danis dans la vigne
Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1980s.
Organic and natural since 1983
Danis respects the principles established in the vineyard and winery by his grandfather and then his father: making wines without additives, organic and natural, from local grape varieties while respecting the environment. It was in 1983 that his grandfather obtained the Lemaire-Boucher organic label, followed by Nature & Progrès and then the AB and Eurofeuille organic labels. Danis Bessières continues in this vein.
Malbec, but not only
Malbec reigns supreme in the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot, and recently created grape varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Colombard as single-varietals. These experiments allow him to moderate the density and opacity of the main grape variety.
P'tit Grobis Blanc 2022,
Nicolas Chemarin
P’tit Grobis blanc is a traditional 100% Chardonnay white wine made by Nicolas Chemarin on his Beaujolais terroir, without additives or added sulfites.
Vinification
Vinified entirely from Chardonnay on granite soils, Nicolas Chemarin's P’tit Grobis blanc is harvested by hand and goes through direct pressing. The operation is followed by settling, which does not eliminate all the fine lees, hence a slightly cloudy color.
White flowers and acidity
The sensations offered by this P’tit Grobis white are complex: on the nose as well as in the mouth, a lactic, buttery, yeasty note. The fresh acidity is accompanied by flint, white flowers and a youthful expressiveness. The minerality of this wine is remarkable. A little age will reveal white fruits, a slight fat and sweet notes. It will pair with many dishes; it is also one of the rare wines that we can recommend with vegetarian cuisine. Try it also with pasta, whatever the recipe, but a seafood base will be the best (pasta with clams, bottarga, smoked fish, etc.). One last tip: P’tit Grobis white will be perfect with a Camembert.
Learn more about Nicolas Chemarin
Nicknamed “P’tit Grobis” as a resident of Marchampt (Beaujolais), Nicolas Chemarin is the fourth generation of winemakers on his family estate in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on stony land where he biodynamically chisels natural wines of surprising depth and sincerity.
From the granite
In 2005, Nicolas took over two hectares of his father’s vines and, in 2006, produced his first vintages. In 2008, he acquired other vines. His terroir, very steep, consists of poor, rocky soils on gray granite rock. The vines, averaging eighty years old, rest through very thin soil on the bedrock where their roots plunge deep. The grape varieties, Gamay and Chardonnay, are classically Beaujolais. Nicolas also cultivates two other terroirs in the Régnié appellation: Les Bullats and La Haute Ronze. While organic certification is impossible on such steep soil, Nicolas "follows the moon" and cares for his terroir as a traditional winemaker with respect for nature.
Vinification
Nicolas Chemarin's wines are macerated for a long time (18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control. A third of the aging takes place in temperature-controlled concrete vats and the rest in barrels of four to ten wines. Nicolas Chemarin is already well-known in the natural world for his sweet and fruity vintages, alongside more complex vintages with mineral, aromatic and spicy notes.
La Barbacana Red 2018,
La Senda
La Barbacane is an organic and natural red wine from Castile and León (Spain) produced by Diego Losada of the La Senda estate in El Bierzo. It is made entirely from the Alicante Bouschet grape variety. The vines, aged between seventy and ninety years old, are located at an altitude of 680 metres in the southwest of Bierzo, on clay-limestone soil mixed with numerous minerals: iron, quartz, slate, etc.
Vinification
The grapes macerate on the skins for three to four days in old open chestnut barrels, then the wine is aged for eleven months in chestnut barrels. No filtration, no added sulfites.
Tasting
This is a fruity and juicy red, very representative of its grape variety, which can be paired with grilled sardines, fresh or smoked tuna or mackerel, and mixed dishes such as couscous, paella or risotto.
Learn more about La Senda
Bodega La Senda is the creation of Diego Losada, a child of Bierzo, a region in the northwest of the province of León, bordered to the north by Asturias and to the west by Galicia. Viticulture dates back to Roman times, but most of the vines were replanted in the mid-20th century.
From heavy metal to the Bierzo vineyards
Born in Ponferrada, in the northern Bierzo, Diego devoted himself to wine after a period devoted to heavy metal. Scientific rigidity and conventional methods did not satisfy him. Attracted to viticulture close to the earth, Diego recovered a few plots to showcase the Bierzo terroir as naturally as possible. In 2012, he created the La Senda estate. His wines are like him: honest, frank, natural, and expressive.
Cuvée Yard Melon de Bourgogne (exclusive cuvée) White 2021
De Vini
This Yard-Melon de Bourgogne is an exclusive, organic, and natural cuvée, created by Christophe Bosque (De Vini) for Culinaries/Yard. It comes from the terroir of the Loire estuary, in Gorges (Loire-Atlantique), in the heart of Nantes, the kingdom of Muscadet, which the De Vini estate worthily represents without having the appellation.
Vinification
Classified as Vin de France, this 100% Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet) grown on gabbro soils is vinified by direct pressing and aged in buried vats in the Nantes style.
Tasting
A pure, fresh and joyful expression of Melon de Bourgogne, this Yard cuvée does not detract from its terroir. The notes diffuse with clarity: lemon, melon, white flowers, with a delicious minerality typical of this Nantes region. A wine for pleasure that will love to accompany oysters, seafood, smoked fish and any seafood.
Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini
De Vini, along with the Vinilibre business, is the multi-faceted 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 vineyard of some two hectares and fermented in buried vats in the Nantes style - a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural mode.
Gabbro Fondu
After spending years as a merchant, importer, then wine merchant, this former cameraman with a BTS in oenology-viticulture acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, in Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson in 2017. The soils there are made up 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.
Magnum Gauthier White 2022,
Gauthier is a dry, organic (AB label), biodynamic, and natural macerated white wine (orange wine) from Jean-Marc Dreyer, vinified in Alsace from all the grape varieties cultivated by the winemaker and without the addition of sulfites. Always packaged in magnums, it is simultaneously a rarity, a challenge, a curiosity, and a precious bottle to savor. Gauthier is the first name of a pilgrim on the Way of Saint James who spent some time with Jean-Marc Dreyer and took part in the work in the cellar. Having noticed that the blend of the fin de cuvée was excellent to drink, he suggested to Jean-Marc that he make a special cuvée: "It tastes so good, it would be a shame not to do it!" It tastes incredibly good, even, notes the winemaker.
Vinification
If you are familiar with Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range - a series of maceration vintages based on six Alsatian white grape varieties - you will find in Gauthier the synthesis and summary of this range. This wine is in fact the result of the blending of the fin de cuvée of each Origin reference. Once blended, the fin de cuvée are kept for two to three months in barrels to unify the flavors. No added sulfites, no additives, no filtration, indigenous yeasts.
Tasting
This atypical production makes Gauthier a full-bodied, characterful vintage, with a distinct touch of controlled oxidation. Gauthier, of course, contains no more sulfites or additives than the vintages it is made from. That is, zero. It is the synthesis of the Jean-Marc Dreyer estate, and that in itself is a tasting note: refer to each of the other vintages in the Origin range on this site to piece together the puzzle, or, better yet, drink it. With everything that goes with macerated Alsace whites, whether cheeses, local dishes, Lacaune charcuterie or Lyon.
