Tense

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru les Folatières White 2019,

Fréderic Cossard

Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted by agricultural chemicals. Having observed, during his years as a wine merchant, the existence of harmful viticultural practices, the winemaker used this counterexample 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 exercise is not limited to Burgundy, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular plowing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: 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. Reds or whites, classic Burgundies or more atypical or less "regional" bottles, Frédéric's vintages are rare and sought-after wines, which sometimes require waiting.

This Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru comes from the Folatières plot, planted with very old vines. This antiquity is felt in the depth and structure of the wine, and it also benefits from superb aging qualities. A fine example of Chardonnay at its peak. Classy, complex, powerful, and precise; Puligny-Montrachet is a legendary wine, and this one lives up to its reputation. Endless pairing possibilities, long aging guaranteed.

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.

Hip Hip White 2018, Domaine de l'Octavin
Hip Hip savagnin is a dry white wine made from Arbois savagnin, macerated for two months in whole bunches. Pressing is followed by a year of aging in vats. The long maceration gives Alice Bouvot the opportunity to highlight the most aromatic aspects of the grape variety: exotic fruits, vibrant acidity, a lovely touch of tannins and spices. A magnificent balance between dryness and suppleness. Truly made for all pairings.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Jeune Tradition Red 2018

Bodegas Coruña del Conde

100% macerated Tempranillo, harvested from plots planted by Alberto López Calvo: an updated version of Julien's grandfather's work.
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.

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.

Rosado Cosecha Rosadito Rosé 2019

Bodegas Coruña del Conde
Natural wine without added sulphites.

I'm Natural Don't Panic #10 From Patio White 2018, Bodegas Coruña del Conde
Julien López's I'm Natural, Don't Panic range consists of macerated wines. This dry white is based 100% on the Airén grape variety, which is very common in Spain, particularly in Castile-León. Julien created this limited edition using grapes from a friend, Samuel Cano, from Patio. Fresh and tangy, slightly cloudy (unfiltered), with beautiful notes of linden and white flowers. No additives in the vineyard or cellar. Pair with grilled fish and white meats.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Cerro las Monjas 1368 Red 2004,

Bodega Barranco Oscuro
Natural wine without added sulphites.

Saint Romain Combe Bazin Qvevris White 2021

Domaine de Chassorney

A white Saint-Romain from a great climate is already a lot, but the same wine, vinified and aged in a qvevri (Georgian-style terracotta jar), acquires even more velvety, delicate, and honeyed notes. 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 locality, is intense, long, and flavorful; it bears the imprint of its beautiful terroir. This is a pure Chardonnay from a steep, east-facing plot between 280 and 400 meters above sea level. The soils are mainly marl, limestone, and clay. After skin maceration, the wine is aged in qvevri, which further accentuates its smoothness and finesse. 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.

Find out more
Through his entirely natural work, Frédéric Cossard gives voice to the terroirs and Burgundy wines, undistorted 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 which are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. Frédéric worked for a 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 merchant house and purchased 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 vintages. The practice is not limited to Burgundy since vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura or Languedoc. At his place, the work of the soil and the vines is done as naturally as possible: regular plowing by horse, no addition of chemical fertilizers or weedkillers. The vines are cared for according to the principles of biodynamics: 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.

Royal Canette White 2016

La Sorga

This 100% Colombard white wine comes from grapes grown on basalt sand and Villafranchian limestone soils in Adissan. Antony Tortul selected the most concentrated grapes from the plot and created a blend of direct pressing and maceration with a little flotation (clarified must). The whole was aged in vats for eleven months. The exotic fruit notes of this wine pair very well with fish in a creamy white wine sauce or in matelote. It has a ten-year aging potential.

La Pinya White 2021

Belly Wine Experiment

The color is a very pale blond, like a linden infusion, slightly cloudy; La Pinya is a fresh, mineral, and aromatic dry white wine, lively and delicate, with a possible sparkle upon opening. In Belly Wine Experiment, there is Experiment, or experimentation. It's a principle that this small organic and natural wine merchant estate strives to demonstrate vintage after vintage. La Pinya, labeled with a pine cone, is a blend of equal parts of two indigenous Catalan grape varieties: Xarel lo and Macabeu from Pla del Penedès, harvested on clay-limestone soils. This blend is quite common in Catalonia, Claire Sage's native country. For this vintage, the Macabeu is worked directly from the press, then blended with crushed Xarel·lo. The whole thing is macerated for a week. This wine is organically grown and has received no chemical additives or sulfites, in the vineyard or in the cellar. Note that the natural formation of tartar may cause a slight foam when the bottle is opened. La Pinya should be stored upright and drunk chilled.

Find out more
Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experiment as a winemaking business. The creative duo has a lot to offer: Claire is the sister of Daniel Sage, a fan of underwater wine aging but above all an importer of Catalan wines. Hence the presence of Catalan grape varieties in Belly Wine Experiment's blends, alongside Burgundy, Auvergne, and Jura grape varieties, readily found in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a poet-winemaker from Auvergne, a former stonemason, and a great winemaker of local Gamays at his Domaine de l'Égrappille. The uniqueness of Belly Wine Experiment is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of the blends, with Xarel lo from Catalonia, for example, being able to sit alongside Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semicarbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.

I'm Natural Don't Panic #7 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 powerful, dense, and generous, but not lacking in freshness, the result of a high-altitude climate that subjects the vines to significant temperature variations. A lovely bouquet of red and black fruits. Decanting will allow it to express its full opulence. For grilled meats, roast lamb, grilled octopus, stews, cocido.
Ideally a wine to be decanted.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Les Œillets Amphore White 2022

Jean-Yves Péron

Les Œillets Amphore is a dry macerated white wine produced in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron. Organic, biodynamic, and natural, it is a 100% Jacquère white, with no additives or added sulfites, classified as a Vin de France.

Vinification

Les Œillets comes from the same terroir as La Petite Robe (the clay-limestone soils of the lieu-dit Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier), but it is harvested later to achieve greater phenolic maturity and a higher tannin concentration. Carbonic maceration for four or five days is followed by a month of punching down in vats. At least one year of aging in terracotta amphorae.

Tasting

With a beautiful minerality and a tension polished by the time spent in terracotta, Les Œillets Amphore by Jean-Yves Péron is an atypical white, with powerful aromatic notes without any trace of wood. Lots of fruit and candied citrus. Les Œillets has chewiness, texture, a tannic mouthfeel and a note of controlled oxidation. The tension is strong, balanced by a note of apricot. You will pair him with all your best dishes.

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.

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.

Le Litre Arbitre White 2020,

Château Lafitte

Le Litre Arbitre, a dry white wine with a strong aroma of white fruit and lemon, is deliciously mineral and lively, perfect for all occasions and also a joy to drink on its own. It's so perfect for gatherings with good friends that Château Lafitte decided to pour it directly into a one-liter bottle. The beverage is obtained by directly pressing different grape varieties from a very old, planted plot whose birth date is unknown. The blend includes the classic Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng grapes from the Jurançon terroir. The harvest is done among friends, the viticulture and winemaking (100% biodynamic) are done without the slightest addition of chemicals or sulfites. Fruity as desired, designed for the most intense conviviality, and not even a pinhead of added sulfites. This wine will keep for a very long time if given the chance.

To find out more

Château Lafitte is located in Béarn, on the noble terroir of Jurançon, the origin of superb sweet wines and dry wines that have nothing to envy. Since the 14th century, Monein, the commune where the estate is located, has been nestled in an exceptional natural, rich and hilly environment. In the 16th century, vines already occupied a significant part of the property, and they have persisted to this day. Philippe and Brigitte Arraou, the current owners, have undertaken to revive viticulture on the site, assisted since 2012 by their son Antoine, a winemaker as passionate as his parents. Château Lafitte is now managed biodynamically and with agroforestry: five hectares of marl-limestone soils typical of the appellation, on a hilly terrain that can become very cold in winter. The king grape varieties of Jurançon, Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng, represent the majority of the grape varieties. Also typical of Jurançon and the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in general, viticulture en hautains, that is to say raised and trained very high, is practiced. As it was in many primitive vineyards, some of which are still active (Portugal, Spain, Georgia, etc.). On this beautiful estate, winemaking experiments are legion: aging in terracotta jars for dry wines, solera for sweet wines in untopped barrels, photovoltaic roofs for the cellar, rainwater harvesting, gravity-fed vinification. Château Lafitte produces sweet Jurançons as well as still dry wines and a very successful natural sparkling wine, Funambule.

Le Desordre Blanc White 2013

Domaine La Sorga

The vines for this Chardonnay from the upper Limoux valley grow on puddingstone soil. The grapes are pressed directly and then aged without topping up in old barrels for twenty-four months. Its mineral and briny notes, laden with spices and lemon, will complement fish in sauce. Aging potential: ten years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Pairs with: Cooked fish

La Petite Robe White 2022

Jean-Yves Péron

La Petite Robe is a dry, organic, biodynamic, and natural macerated white wine made in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron. It is a 100% Jacquère white, classified as a Vin de France. It is not fined, filtered, or sulfited.

Vinification

The Jacquère vines grow on clay-limestone soil, in the place called Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier. La Petite Robe comes from roughly the same terroir as Les Œillets, but this vintage is harvested earlier. Carbonic maceration lasts two weeks. The wine is aged for one year in 15-hectoliter tuns and barrels.

Tasting

The Petite Robe, wonderfully sweet and crisp, is yet another great success from Jean-Yves Péron. There are actually two Petites Robes: the wine will be very different depending on whether it is in magnum or bottle. Jean-Yves likes to talk about this as an exercise in style. Here, in 75 cl, the Jacquère gives its opulent, gourmet, fruity, fleshy side, with volume on the palate. The Petite Robe offers notes of charcoal, white fruits, a beautiful balance and great intensity, combined with a note of controlled oxidation. This wine is ideal with smoked, raw, or cooked seafood.

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 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.