Tense

Octave White 2018

Sous le Végétal

Octave because okto (eight), eight terraces of four terroirs. This dry white conveys the mineral expression of the rocks present on the island and constitutes a good synthesis of its pedological profile. Schist, limestone, quartz, and volcanic rocks on the eight selected plots. The schist brings salinity, the quartz freshness (acidity), the volcanic rocks austerity, and the limestone tension. The iodine aromas of the Muscat are elegant, avoiding the heavy side of the grape variety. A complex and taut wine, prolonged by a mineral finish. Decanting is recommended to allow it to flourish.

Where?
Villages of Pagondas and Platanos, on the foothills of Mount Karvounis, and on Mount Karvounis itself. Schist, limestone, quartz, and basalt soils.

The vines
Samos small grain Muscat, grown organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines, pruned in goblet form, are harvested by hand from July 23 to September 15, in the early morning.

Vinification
Free-run juice obtained by crushing, vinification without pumping over, aeration, or stabilization. Only settling and topping up are carried out. Vinification is carried out half in 750-liter amphorae and half in 1,400-liter Nomblot concrete vats. Wine without additives, unfiltered, bottled by gravity and transferred by peristaltic pump into black bottles ensuring aging. Aged in bottles with organic cork without paraffin, sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.

Octave blanc 2019 Polo & Pan edition, Sous le Végétal - CULINARIES EXCLUSIVE

How does a collaboration between the duo Polo & Pan and Culinaries' Sous le Végétal project come about? DJs Paul Armand-Delille and Alexandre Grynszpan – aka Polo & Pan – are sensitive to the values conveyed by so-called natural wines: an infinite palette of flavors, organic and biodynamic agriculture, respect for the soil and terroirs, no added chemical inputs... At Culinaries, natural wine is our flagship. During a tasting at our place, it was a revelation: the artists fell in love with Octave 2019. The partnership was born!


Some information about the vintage
The wine
Okto, in Greek, is the number eight. When a winemaker grows vines on a mountainside, he must adapt to the relief and create terraces: the grapes that make up Octave grow on eight different terraces. And so it was named.

A dry white made from small-grain muscat from Samos, it faithfully conveys to the glass the mineral expression of the island's rocks. The schist brings the salinity, the quartz the freshness (acidity), the volcanic rocks the austerity and the limestone the tension. The Muscat's iodine aromas are elegant, avoiding the heavy side of the grape variety. A complex and taut wine, prolonged by a mineral finish, Octave flourishes in a carafe and has strong aging potential.

Sous le Végétal, its island and its winemakers

Jason Ligas and Patrick Bouju, two leading figures in natural wine, are at the helm of the Culinaries Sous le Végétal estate, located on Samos, a volcanic and richly wooded island in the North Aegean archipelago. More precisely, the plots from which the Octave cuvée is made are located in the villages of Pagondas and Platanos, on the foothills and slopes of Mount Karvounis. The soils are schistose, limestone, quartzose, and basalt.

The Vines

The grape variety is Muscat à petits grains de Samos, grown organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines, pruned in the goblet style, are harvested by hand in the early morning, from July 23rd to September 15th.

Vinification

Free-run juice obtained by crushing, vinification without pumping over, aeration, or stabilization. Only settling and topping up are performed. Half of the wine is vinified in 750-liter amphorae and half in 1,400-liter Noblot concrete vats. The wine is unfiltered and free-run, bottled by gravity and transferred by peristaltic pump into black bottles, ensuring optimal aging. Aged in bottles with organic paraffin-free corks, sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.

Want to enjoy at the bar?

Our YARD bars and restaurants also offer this vintage! Learn more about our locations

Food and wine pairing

Perfect pairing with natural oysters or seafood!

Food and wine pairing mets-musique

Without a doubt, the latest album Cyclorama by Polo & Pan themselves!

Hüpnos White 2018

Sous le Végétal

Hüpnos ("sleep" in Greek) owes its name to the slopes of the dormant volcano on which its vineyard terraces are located, harvested at night. This dry white wine is produced from two remarkably austere vineyards. A macerated wine, it offers great mineral freshness and rich fruit, extended by notes of candied fruit.

Where?
On the slopes of an extinct volcano, in the Agii Sarandides area, and on Mount Karvounis. Basalt and limestone soils.

The vines
Muscat à petit grain from Samos, grown organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines are pruned in goblet form. Manual harvesting at night, in order to preserve the freshness of the polyphenols and ensure perfect maceration.

Vinification
Free-run juice obtained by maceration in stainless steel vats by diffusion for forty days, whole bunches. Vinification without aeration or stabilization, only settling, pumping over and topping up are carried out. Vinification in 500-liter Stockinger barrels. Wine without additives, unfiltered, bottled by gravity and transferred by peristaltic pump into black bottles ensuring aging. Aged in bottles with organic cork without paraffin, sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.

Palli & Genesià White 2018

Sous le Végétal

The name of this cuvée evokes a rebirth: this is the meaning, in Greek, of the word palingenesià ("new birth"). It is, in fact, an abandoned mountain vineyard that begins a second life thanks to Jason's team: a resurrected vine. It is a maceration wine of great finesse and beautiful minerality, with all the freshness of the high-altitude vine.

Where?
The vineyard, located in the village of Platanos, on the slopes of Mount Karvounis, rests on a pink granite subsoil.

The vines
Small-grain Muscat of Samos, cultivated organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines are pruned in goblet form and the harvest is entirely manual.

Vinification
Free-run juice obtained by maceration in stainless steel vats by diffusion for forty days, whole bunches. Vinification without aeration or stabilization; only settling, pumping over and topping up are carried out. Vinification in 750-liter amphorae. Wine without additives, unfiltered, bottled by gravity and transferred by peristaltic pump into black bottles ensuring aging. Aged in bottles with organic cork stopper without paraffin, sealed with a mixture of paraffin and black beeswax.

Mol Red 2020

Patrick Bouju

Decanting is recommended for the best expression of this festive and euphoric wine, which needs time to breathe and develop its strength: it's a blend that's out of the ordinary and deserves full attention. With its precision and accuracy, Le Môl proudly bears the signature of the great Patrick Bouju. Structured, robust, fleshy, smoky, and warm, it's a complex red that shines with its black cherry aromas and beautifully balanced acidity. The finish is joyful, velvety, deep, and spicy. As a blend, it’s a veritable festival of black grape varieties: Carignan, Cinsault, Gamay, Grenache, Muscat of Alexandria, Sauvignon, Syrah… A virtuoso mix of Auvergne grapes and bunches purchased further south. Drink now or wait a few years. Special mention for the beautiful label, designed by Justine Loiseau.

Find out more
Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises towards the east to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered in vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d’Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone, and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves the indigenous grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and simultaneously works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes much to Patrick. The fact that he enjoys lending a helping hand to his winegrowing friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a role model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick found that his wines did very well without them. He also found that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, balance occurs naturally, regardless of the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Lower Auvergne and its volcanic soils.

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.

Sémélé Rosé 2022

Sous le Végétal

Sémélé, exclusively from Culinaries, is an organic and natural rosé wine from the island of Samos (Greece) that is part of Patrick Bouju's Sous le Végétal project in partnership with Culinaries. Its name alludes to the myth of Semele, mistress of Zeus and mother of Dionysus, god of Wine and Intoxication.

In the Vineyard

Sous le Végétal vintages are primarily based on Samos Muscat à petits grains and, more rarely, on other local grape varieties. Here, the red Avgoustiatis grape variety is blended in equal parts with Muscat. The vines are managed biodynamically and in permaculture.

In the cellar

A blend of avgoustiatis (a very common red grape variety in Greece) macerated for a week and directly pressed muscat, all organic, Sémélé is neither filtered nor fined.

Tasting

With its deep, lively and seductive color, its fruitiness of strawberry and raspberry and its lovely tannins, Sémélé is a natural rosé that leans towards a light red. It will go well with tapas, mezes, starters and Mediterranean dishes: we recommend pairing it with taramas by Lionel Durot, with smoked fish or seafood hors d'oeuvres by Saumon de France, or with the delicious poutargue de Martigues by Frédéric Paez.

Learn more about Sous le Végétal

Under the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural and additive-free vintages exclusively for Culinaries, produced 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 by Patrick Bouju.

History (and geography)
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 or asyrtiko, blended or not with Samos muscat. Each plot is vinified separately. Four types of winemaking 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 wine is aged in black, wax-sealed bottles. No sulfites are added or filtration is performed.

Môl Rouge 2019,

Patrick Bouju
With precision and accuracy, Le Môl proudly bears the signature of the great Patrick Bouju. Structured, robust, fleshy, smoky, and warm, it is a complex red that shines with its black cherry aromas and beautifully balanced acidity. The finish is joyful, velvety, deep, and spicy. As a blend, it is a veritable festival of black grape varieties: Carignan, Cinsault, Gamay, Grenache, Muscat of Alexandria, Sauvignon, Syrah… A virtuoso mix of Auvergne grapes and bunches purchased further south. Decanting is recommended for the best expression of this festive and euphoric wine. Drink now or wait a few years. Special mention for the beautiful label, signed Justine Loiseau.

To find out more
Near Billom, the Limagne clermontoise rises towards the east to form a hilly area with a mild climate, dominated by volcanic hills. This is the Auvergne Tuscany, so named because of its resemblance to the Italian province. This land of mixed subsistence farming was once covered with vines and was the preferred domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a robust ancient strain, the origin of dense, deep and fruity wines. This is where Patrick Bouju cultivates and vinifies, on these high-quality volcanic soils and mainly on old vines. The soils vary between basalt, limestone, clay-limestone and pozzolan. Patrick collects and cares for the best terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme, often abandoned, and gives them new life. He also preserves native grape varieties, of which he cultivates a good fifty, and also works as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes a lot to Patrick. The fact that he likes to lend a hand to his winegrower friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a model, a leader. His partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the A la Natural series, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal… Patrick practices long macerations, and the wines rest for up to six months after bottling. Very sensitive to sulfites in wines, Patrick has found that his own wines do very well without them. He has also observed that if the grapes are healthy and concentrated, the balance is achieved on its own, regardless of the successive phases a vintage goes through. His noble, chiseled, distinguished, never bland wines are immediately recognizable in the glass. They are straight, clean, precise, often marked by floral notes and a spicy minerality. They also constitute a formidable anthology of the terroirs and ancient vines of Basse-Auvergne and its volcanic soils.

J - Jacquere 2018

Patrick Bouju
J for jacquère, this beautiful Savoyard white grape variety vinified by Patrick Bouju from grapes from plots unearthed with the help of Jean-Yves Péron, somewhere near Chambéry. A distinguished, structured, and characterful maceration white that can be aged for a few years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

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.

Riesling Blanc 2021

Domaine Einhart
The color of this Riesling from Domaine Einhart is a beautiful orange-yellow. The initial nose is delicate, slightly musky, with notes of grapefruit and dandelion flower. The second nose is fresher and more mineral, with aromas of thyme, aromatic herbs, and flint. The palate begins with vivacity and beautiful verticality; the minerality is typical of limestone. Dried herbs return before a lingering finish with remarkable salinity. Riesling, the lord of Eastern grape varieties, finds here an expression worthy of its nobility. Light skin maceration is successful for this grape variety, and this one is no exception. The twenty-five-year-old vines grow on the muschelkalk (oolitic limestone) soils of the Kreutzweg area. The grapes are harvested by hand and then directly pressed. Maceration, using indigenous yeasts, takes between four and eight days. Aging on fine lees is ten months in century-old beer barrels (an Alsatian specialty) and precedes bottling without filtration. From the vineyard to the cellar, this wine was made without any additives or sulfites. Decanting is recommended so that it can spread its wings and express its mineral notes.

To find out more
Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family property whose vines are located on the hillsides that rise between the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, i.e. shell limestone and oolitic limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone). Since 1990, Nicolas Einhart has been at the helm, now assisted by his son Théo. Faithful to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is a co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to the protection of the land and biodiversity, winemaking without inputs, the refusal of harmful phytosanitary products and the maintenance of ecological refuge zones. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer [link], he is firmly focused on skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a Pinot Noir red. Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the grapes, 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 grape, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of the very beautiful terroirs of the Vosges foothills.

Saint Romain Combe Bazin White 2021

Domaine de Chassorney

The nose is floral and beautifully mineral. White flowers, yellow fruits (Mirabelle plum, peach), and a hint of toasted brioche. On the palate, this white Saint-Romain, made from Chardonnays grown in the Combe Bazin area, is intense, long, and flavorful; it bears the imprint of its beautiful terroir. This pure Chardonnay comes from a steep, east-facing plot between 280 and 400 meters above sea level. The soils are primarily marl, limestone, and clay. After skin maceration, aging is about a year in barrels. The Combe Bazin climate is known for producing mineral, lively, sapid, and persistent wines, with the added bonus of Burgundian smoothness. If you give this wine a few years, it will develop a rich, honeyed, mellow, and distinguished note, but it is good to drink immediately.

To find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years of trading, the existence of harmful wine-growing practices, the winemaker used this counter-example to practice unadulterated viticulture. Thus, he produces vintages of purity and elegance without artifice that are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for some time as a wine broker before creating the domaine de Chassorney with his partner Laure in 1996: initially a few ares of vines in Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses and Savigny-lès-Beaune, and currently ten hectares spread across the Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Volnay, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune and Bourgogne appellations. In 2006, he created his own wine trading house and buys organic grapes to vinify, according to his style and convictions, great vintages such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée and several Beaujolais crus. The practice is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc, and elsewhere. At his farm, the soil and vines are worked as naturally as possible: regular horse-drawn ploughing, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are tended according to biodynamic principles: homeopathic treatments based on essential oils, copper, and sulfur in minimal doses. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out at full maturity, at the end of October. Red or white, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

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.

Concerto Red 2021

Jean-Pierre Robinot

Concerto is an organic and natural red wine from the terroirs north of the Loire (Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir). It bears the distinctive mark of Pineau d'Aunis, the grape variety from which it is made, as well as the inimitable touch of its creator, Jean-Pierre Robinot.

In the vineyard and in the winery

Through Concerto, master winemaker Jean-Pierre Robinot showcases Pineau d'Aunis grown on limestone soils. The harvest is carried out by hand and vinified in whole bunches with three weeks of maceration, which gives the wine body. Aged for a year in old barrels.

Tasting

All the typical characteristics of Pineau d'Aunis: spices, cranberry, pomegranate, and a touch of raspberry. Limestone and mineral notes, a touch of undergrowth, a touch of yeast and butter, a pure and light color. A touch of menthol and black pepper on the palate. Drink with a good roast beef or lamb, a delicately roasted pigeon, charcuterie, cured meats, and even uninhibited fish such as smoked mackerel or any other smoked seafood.

Learn more about Jean-Pierre Robinot

Anyone interested in natural wine in France has crossed paths with Jean-Pierre Robinot and has never forgotten this smiling, bouncing figure. Although it has not yet been proven that all wines resemble their winemaker (a study to be undertaken), the organic and natural wines produced by Jean-Pierre, warm, friendly and luminous, are in the image of their creator. After running the wine bar L’Ange Vin for nearly fifteen years, on rue Richard-Lenoir in Paris, Jean-Pierre returned to his native Chahaignes, a small village in the south of Sarthe. His dream is to acquire his vineyard and make natural wines, without added sulfites.

Great terroirs of the Loir and tuffeau cellars

Jean-Pierre therefore reclaims hillside wasteland, on great terroirs, as well as troglodyte cellars dug into the tuffeau. 2002 will be his first vintage. At the same time, under the brand L’Opéra des vins, he vinifies organic grapes purchased from local winemakers. A member of the S.A.I.N.S. natural viticulture association, Jean-Pierre Robinot practices strict organic viticulture practices, without chemical weeding or the addition of sulfites. The soil is worked and amended with natural composts. All harvests, carried out at maturity on healthy grapes, are done by hand. The location and climate favor noble rot.

Auguste Red 2019,

Sous le Végétal

Auguste is the only dry red wine from the Sous le Végétal project. It takes its name from the indigenous Greek avgoustiatis grape variety, from which it is made entirely. It is a light wine that, through its Mediterranean nature, recalls something of the reds of the Jura: a characteristic earthy and mineral note, plenty 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. 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 ('the august') grape variety is a rare variety, the first red grape variety harvested in Greece. It is cultivated organically in conversion to permaculture. The vines, pruned in the 'goblet' style, are harvested by hand on the morning of August 15th. 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. The wine 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.
To find out more
Under the plant lies the mineral: this is the meaning of this concept of natural vintages created in Greece, on the island of Samos, by a team of friends gathered around the winemakers Jason Ligas and Patrick Bouju. The successful enterprise marks a renaissance of the thousand-year-old vineyard of this island in the North Aegean Sea, which owes its dense and woody vegetation to various nicknames received in Antiquity, from Dryoussa (“covered with oaks”) to Kyparissia (“covered with cypresses”) and Melamphyllos (“With dark foliage”). 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 and Auguste—are produced on around sixty plots of Samos Muscat à petits grains (and Avgoustiatis for the red vintage), 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 locality is vinified in at least two of the four containers and the aging takes place in black bottles sealed with wax. No added sulfur, no filtration: Samos' winemakers are rediscovering 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 vintages by Patrick Bouju.

Octave (exclusive vintage) White 2023,

Sous le Vegetal


Sous le Végétal, our own iconic estate on the island of Samos, delivers with Octave 2023 a pure and vibrant interpretation of Muscat Petit Grain. A new vintage of this already iconic vintage, this bottle is produced using whole-bunch maceration, this white wine reveals a fascinating complexity, both floral and mineral.

An exceptional Muscat, between freshness and depth
Thanks to natural vinification, without artifice, and meticulous work on indigenous yeasts, this wine reveals the full expression of the Samos terroir. Whole bunch maceration gives it texture and structure, while maintaining superb tension.

An expressive nose and a chiseled palate
The nose reveals intense notes of white flowers, citrus fruits and sweet spices, accompanied by a beautiful saline minerality. On the palate, it offers a fresh and ample attack, with a beautiful acidity and a lingering finish on notes of candied zest and aromatic herbs.

How to enjoy Octave?
Ideal at 10-12°C and decanted before tasting, Octave will perfectly accompany seafood, fish ceviche or poultry with citrus fruits. Its aging potential of 5 to 10 years will allow it to evolve towards even more complex aromas.

Himmel auf Erden Rosé 2018

Christian Tschida

An exceptional Austrian rosé

Forget everything you thought you knew about rosé. Himmel auf Erden 2018, a natural wine from Burgenland, challenges the rules with boldness and elegance. Made from Cabernet Franc, this Austrian rosé reveals a vibrant profile, far from the expected standards.

A unique and unadorned rosé

Made without filtration or added sulfur, this wine is the pure expression of the fruit and terroir. After careful destemming and crushing, it benefits from a year of aging in large barrels, giving it depth and complexity. The inspiration behind its name comes from a work by the iconoclastic artist Alfred Hrdlicka, adding an artistic dimension to this atypical cuvée.

An explosive nose, a palate full of life

Upon opening, Himmel auf Erden 2018 reveals an explosion of aromas: wild raspberry, wild berries, tomato leaf and a hint of aromatic herbs. On the palate, the energy is striking: a beautiful mineral tension, a light natural effervescence, and an irresistible sapidity that prolongs the pleasure.

Pairings and service

Ideal at 10-12°C, it will pair well with Mediterranean cuisine, plant-based dishes, and fine charcuterie. With no added sulfites, this rosé can be enjoyed in its purest form and promises a unique sensory experience.

With Himmel auf Erden 2018, rediscover rosé in a new light. A lively, bold wine.

Es d’aqui Trachéo Red 2016

Jean-Louis Pinto

This pure Grenache comes from the schist soils of Faugères. It is a superb wine, refined and fresh, beautifully fruity. It has aging potential for six or seven years, but can be enjoyed now. Nose of raspberry, rose, licorice, and Languedoc garrigue. On the palate, very well-integrated tannins. Beautiful energy, sunshine, and plenty of structure.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Garnata Red 2010

Barranco Oscuro

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.

Vino Rosso Cereza Red 2017

Corvagialla

A light red wine made from the Italian Ciliegiolo grape variety. Unfiltered. Ideal serving temperature: 16/18°C.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.