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844 products
Colline des anciens White 2021
The aptly named Colline des Anciens is minerality personified: full of freshness and salinity, it is a dry white from Alsace with an alcohol content of 13.6% and a great aromatic depth. This minerality and aromatic depth reflect the great limestone terroir of the Rosheim hillsides: a clay-rich soil on a substrate of muschelkalk and pink limestone. The plots face south on a 20% slope, and the vines have an average age of thirty years. The blend of three Alsatian grape varieties is carried out as follows: the Riesling (40%) is directly pressed, while the Gewurztraminer (20%) and Pinot Gris (40%) are macerated for forty-eight hours. All the grapes come from the estate and are harvested by hand; both the viticulture and the work in the cellar are 100% free of additives and sulfites, and the wine is not filtered. Colline des Anciens is aged exclusively in Alsatian foudres (wooden vats of around a thousand liters).
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Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family estate 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 oolite limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone). 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 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 resolutely moving towards skin maceration and produces white maceration wines (orange wines) in addition to a red Pinot Noir. Entirely manual harvesting, 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 grape, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of the very beautiful terroirs of the Vosges foothills.
Sémélé (exclusive vintage) Rosé 2023,
Sous le Végétal
With Sémélé 2023, Sous le Végétal revisits the notion of rosé by offering a cuvée halfway between a light red and a structured rosé. A bold blend of 50% Avgoustatis macerated for a week and 50% Muscat Petit Grain pressed directly, it reveals beautiful aromatic intensity and vibrant acidity.
A rosé off the beaten track
This wine is distinguished by its deep, vivid color, revealing its structure and aromatic intensity. The short maceration of Avgoustatis gives it fine tannins and a nice length on the palate.
A fruity nose and a balanced palate
The nose explodes with notes of strawberry, raspberry and crisp red fruits. On the palate, the attack is fresh, the structure light but persistent, with a tangy and dynamic finish.
How to enjoy Sémélé?
At 10-12°C and decanted before tasting, Sémélé will accompany summer grills, Mediterranean dishes and soft cheeses. With an aging potential of more than 10 years, it will gain complexity with time.
€44,00
Unit price per€44,00
Unit price perMagnum Variette Red 2018
A blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault: a full-bodied red with aromas of garrigue, blackcurrant, and blackberry. Pairs well with red wine stews: beef stew, gardianne, beef bourguignon, coq au vin, as well as roast red meats. Ideal with poached pears.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cinsauriel Red 2021
Cinsauriel is an organic and natural red wine from the Languedoc region, produced by Jean-Louis Pinto of the Es d’Aqui estate. 100% Cinsault, classified as Vin de France, it comes from the schist soils of Berlou, near Saint-Chinian.
Vinification
Cinsauriel is obtained by fermentation with indigenous yeasts and a month of maceration of the whole bunches in sandstone jars, the container where the aging also takes place.
Tasting
Beautiful bright ruby color, nose of pepper, rose and strawberry, accents of garrigue, candied black olive and prune. Lively and powerful, Cinsauriel is a robust and distinguished wine. It calls for solid foods: beef, roast pork, roast poultry such as chicken, capon or duck. He also enjoys charcuterie and cured meats.
Learn more about Jean-Louis Pinto and the Es d’Aqui estate
A child of Ariège, Jean-Louis Pinto chose to stay in the country and make wines that resemble their terroir, hence the name Es d’Aqui (“He is from here”) that he gave to his wine merchant estate, located in Moulin-Neuf, a town near the Aude, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century.
Winemaker and merchant
Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by winegrower friends. He monitors the fruit set, the ripening, and does everything to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies them at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations on whole bunches and very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga).
All the terroirs of Languedoc
Jean-Louis Pinto's collection area extends throughout Languedoc, particularly in Hérault, Aude, and Tarn. "I make wines from the South," he says. "I'm mainly looking for terroirs that give freshness." The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline quality."
Pet Nat White 2021
We are proud to present the natural sparkling wine from Domaine Einhart, a true bouquet of Alsace grape varieties, floral and cheerful, yet based on a solid framework due to skin maceration: this gives a resolutely vinous, complex, and profound character to a type of wine (Pet Nat) better known for its light, fruity, and airy notes. This makes it a rather paradoxical vintage, a firmly planted orange wine, but with added bubbles—light and joyful bubbles that do nothing to diminish the paradox. This is a festive wine, yet very mineral, very earthy, which has many strings to its bow and is not reserved for festivities: it demands to be savored on its own and especially at the table. At 12.5% ABV, it is composed of Sylvaner, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris, entirely from the estate, harvested by hand. The vines, averaging thirty years old, grow on the muschelkalk soils of the Weingarten and Oberer Altenberg sites. Vinification begins with destemming, followed by a four-day maceration with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged in bottles, on slats, for ten months before disgorging. Serve chilled.
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Located in the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, horizontally above Strasbourg, the Einhart estate is a ten-hectare family property whose vines are found on the hillsides rising 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. True to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is a co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without additives, refusing harmful phytosanitary products, and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic since 2011. Like Jean-Marc Dreyer, 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.
€82,00
Unit price per€82,00
Unit price perBeaune Les Chardonnereux Qvevris Red 2020,
This is a magnificent red wine from Beaune with dark harmonies: blueberry, black fruits, black cherry, alongside aromas of red rose petals and fresh violets. It is a calm and elegant wine, endowed with elegant richness and admirable fruit concentration, in which the slight astringency of well-evolved tannins blends gracefully. It comes from a plot of land that has been cultivated organically for three years and faces south. This Chardonnereux plot is known for ensuring early ripening of the grapes. To highlight the minerality of this red Beaune, Frédéric Cossard decided to ferment and age it in qvevri, a Georgian-style buried jar. Aging in qvevri lasts twelve months, after a month and a half of fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The passage in qvevri is preceded by a three-month passage in stainless steel vats.
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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 viticultural 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.
Combe du Temps Red 2020,
Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
La Combe du Temps rouge is a powerful but not heavy wine: red fruits are layered with notes of undergrowth, earth, garrigue, and mineral, on a rather full-bodied and tannic structure. Natural and elegant, not lacking in freshness, La Combe du Temps rouge was fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts, without filtration or fining, then aged 20% of the total volume in barrels. The wine has more than moderate oak. Very balanced, it is a Languedoc blend (equal parts Syrah and Grenache) that plays on freshness with a beautiful chewiness.
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The Domaine du Temps is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of the Cathar Country. Starting from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the place called Font Juvénal, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and freshness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is determined based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
Rencontre Red 2020,
Rencontre's nose is subtle, laden with red fruits, with pronounced forest notes: mushroom, humus, a touch of leather, spices, and violet. On the palate, the fruit is very present, very pleasant, and decidedly peppery, and the beautiful, fine, precise tannins nestle gracefully into a very tactile, chewy finish. This is a wine of strong character that surprises with its beautiful structure. Its color is dense and full, like that of a Bordeaux. This wine from the Gaillac region is made from local grape varieties: 40% Syrah and 40% Braucol, supplemented by 20% Duras, all fermented in the same vat. The harvest is destemmed. Maceration lasts three weeks in a temperature-controlled concrete vat, with indigenous yeasts. The Braucol and Duras are co-fermented. Only a few pumpings are carried out. The press juice and free-run juice are blended with 20% Duras free-run juice to add a peppery touch. Aging is also done in vats. We recommend decanting this Encounter which, without any pun intended, is a true encounter that is definitely worth the detour.
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The name Gaillac, the region where the Bois-Moisset estate is located, owned by Sylvie Ledran and Philippe Maffre, has been associated with wines since Antiquity; It is the oldest vineyard in France, with two thousand years of history and an impressive collection of ancient indigenous grape varieties. It is also a region of dazzling beauty, nicknamed "French Tuscany" because of its gentle hills planted with groves and its almost Florentine brightness. Many estates, along with that of Bois-Moisset, showcase this uniquely rich wine-growing heritage. Along with an estate planted with vines, it is an organic mixed farm that directly sells its production of lentils, sunflower oil, cereal flours and grape juice. A herd of old local breed cows also thrives there and guest rooms are available in the summer. It is in this small rural paradise that natural wines typical of their origin and their terroir are born, on fifteen hectares of boulbènes, gravelly and sandy-loam soils carried by the Tarn for thousands of years. The grape varieties are dominated by Syrah and Duras, but the ampelographic richness of the Gaillac region (braucol, prunelart, loin-de-l'œil, etc.) is also evident in the vintages of the Bois-Moisset estate, which consist particularly of red wines with a crisp fruitiness, concentrated but with smooth and delicate tannins.
UL Ull de llebre Red 2020
Partida Creus
This wine is highly original: behind the minerality, (black) fruit, blueberry, and freshness, we notice very fine tannins and aromatic herbs. A serious wine, a little grave, but did you know that serious wines make you joyful? Its length on the palate is astonishing. Decanting is highly recommended so that this wine can play its own unique music, down to the finest notes. A recent creation, this red from Partida Creus is made from the ancient and indigenous grape variety called ull de llebre, which, you guessed it, means "hare's eye." What you might not guess is that this is the Catalan name for Tempranillo. It's actually an old local version of this very Iberian grape variety, which Massimo and Antonella have nurtured in their own way.
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Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of wine and history—we're talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont—and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties that they passionately revive to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it is not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it is a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel.lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel.lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush yet always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, exude life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.
Magnum Munjebel VA Red 2016
Frank Cornelissen
This pure Nerello Mascalese produced under the IGP Terre Siciliane comes from the basalt soils of the three highest plots (Vigne Alte) of the Cornelissen estate, rich in biodiversity: Tartaraci (1,000 m above sea level), Monte Dolce (870 m), and Pettinociarelle (890 m). It perfectly expresses the excellence of the old, ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines grown on the high terraces of the northern valley of Etna. It is the estate's most Burgundian vintage, with the most pronounced acidity. A balanced, structured, gourmet, and easy-to-drink cuvée, it offers plenty of crisp fruit without ever being too easy. A certain bite and freshness typical of the estate. A perfect table red, it pairs well with roasted farm-raised chicken.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Combe du Temps Blanc 2019,
Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps
This estate is located in Cabardès, a small region of Languedoc that was once a subdivision of Cathar Country. Stretching from the southern slope of the Montagne Noire to the city of Carcassonne, it is bordered to the west by the Lauragais and to the east by the Minervois. Hilly, wild, and rich in Mediterranean flora, it is a preserved ecosystem, especially since the Domaine du Temps, in the Font Juvénal area, is a magical place: around a former 18th-century priory, sixty hectares of forests and scrubland protect thirteen hectares of vineyards on stony clay-limestone soils. The balance between dryness and coolness is a boon for viticulture, with a wide range of grape varieties. In addition to the Languedoc grape varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Muscat), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sémillon, and Chenin are grown. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 1998, is entirely managed biodynamically, and has been dedicated to natural wine since 2015. The work in the vineyard and cellar is methodical, rigorous, and attentive: only the best grapes are kept, resulting in small yields, and destemming is decided based on the ripeness of the bunch. The reds are vinified using carbonic maceration of individual grape varieties, with the blending taking place before the year's aging. The whites are slowly and gently pressed to extract only the best from the grapes. These precautions produce smooth, controlled wines of great integrity, with very supple tannins. They are fresh, delicious, and expressive.
Sixty percent Chenin, twenty percent Sémillon, and twenty percent Roussanne: this is the blend that makes up the white cuvée of La Combe du Temps. A blend that traces a geographical triangle between Chenin, more associated with the Loire, Sémillon from the Southwest, and Roussanne from the Southeast. All three are fermented naturally, using indigenous yeasts, before aging for nine months in old barrels. No sulfites are added. Delicious and expressive, it is lively and dry with a lovely nuance of melted wood. The elegance and slightly rich note are traits found in all the whites from this estate. Its balance will delight everyone and give it access to numerous flavor pairings.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Le Pressoir de Saint Pierre Blanc 2020
La Grapperie
Le Pressoir de Saint-Pierre is a magnificent expression of Chenin Blanc, a grape variety that is the hallmark of the central Loire Valley region. On the nose, it reveals fruity and citrus aromatic treasures, and already a hint of smoke and flint that promises wonders. On the palate, it confirms with notes of white and yellow fruits (apricot, apple, peach, mandarin) and rare and splendid smoky, earthy, and siliceous accents. Its voluptuous texture will wonderfully envelop smoked fish, white meats, and mushrooms. The elegance and maturity of the wine reflect the old vines from which it comes, planted in 1935 on tuffeau, marl limestone and flint clay soils on the left bank of the Loire. Despite aging for twenty-four months in barrels, this wine has a low alcohol content and retains a very nice minerality. The harvest is processed directly by pressing and the aging is one year in barrels.
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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. His principle, he confides, is "to produce complex, rich wines, with good aging potential and imbued with the minerality of their terroir." The vines are located on hillsides, between 60 and 120 meters above sea level, protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are predominantly clay (at the bottom of the slope), flint (mid-slope) or sand (on the higher ground). The 60-hectare vineyard comprises around fifteen plots. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized varieties in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the remainder consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay and Grolleau. The average age of the vines is seventy years, including almost two hectares of century-old vines and one and a half hectares of vines aged between sixty and eighty years. Convinced of the enormous potential that these old vines can bring to his vintages, Renaud undertakes meticulous work to restore the vineyard. 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 Pineaux d'Aunis are 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 and then poured into barrels by gravity. Fermentation takes place in barrels, on indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.
Le Roi Maceration White 2019
Domaine de l'Octavin
Why the king? Because it's Riesling, the king of grape varieties, grown biodynamically in Alsace (Philippe Brand estate) on clay-limestone soils. Even better: it's a Riesling macerated for fifteen days in whole bunches to capture all the power of the grape. For fine dinners, refined dishes, and delicate gastronomy. And to drink on its own, as an aperitif or after dinner, to appreciate its thousand aristocratic nuances.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Mensonge à Papa Red 2020,
Here is a light, fresh, supple, and fruity red that proudly bears the banner of Gamay from two regions: Auvergne and Beaujolais. It is the result of a blend of equal parts of these two origins of the same grape variety, neither entirely identical nor entirely different. An ode to Gamay, in a way. These Gamays from Auvergne and Beaujolais are first slowly pressed, then their must is added to whole bunches for a fifteen-day carbonic maceration. Aging takes place in fiberglass vats. Classified as a Vin de France and with an alcohol content of 13.5%, it will be wonderful as an aperitif or with a meal, or just to have a good time.
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Founded and run by Claire Sage and Aimé Duveau, located in Chanteuges (Haute-Loire), Belly Wine Experiment is as much an experience as a winemaking business. The creative duo has it in spades: Claire is the sister of Adrien 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 or Jura grape varieties, readily in the same bottle. Aimé is the son of Manu Duveau, a winemaker-poet 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 being able to rub shoulders, for example, with Gamay from Puy-de-Dôme with the utmost naturalness. The wines are made using semi-carbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical inputs or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The house is also known for its very high-quality, vinous perries.
Munjebel Rouge 2021
Frank Cornelissen
Rich, fragrant, with beautifully melted tannins and the smoothness of ripe fruit, Munjebel Rouge is a classic, classified as DOP Etna Rosso or IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. Among Frank Cornelissen's wines, this one best represents the typical character of the northern Etna valley. “A rich and fragrant wine of pure Nerello Mascalese,” explains Frank Cornelissen, “from different vineyards, partly from our best plots where we produce our crus (Zottorinoto-Chiusa Spagnolo, Feudo di Mezzo-Sottana and Porcaria) as well as from the vineyards designated for this specific wine (Rampante Sottana, Piano Daini and Crasà). Classic, traditional, with tannins and a sweetness of ripe fruit. My vision of a traditional, balanced and rich wine from the northern valley of Etna.” Munjebel red is a true bouquet of wild red fruits, aromatic and balanced, carrying all the crunch of ripe fruit, with a Pinot Noir side and a bright translucent color. It is vinified with indigenous yeasts, without additives or sulfites, unclarified and minimally filtered before bottling.
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A major figure and universally respected figure in natural wine, Frank Cornelissen is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his contrasting terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines. The brilliance, the directness and the exquisite fruitiness of his vintages earn him the admiration even of those reluctant to accept "natural". They are good introductory wines.
His Sicilian azienda is located in Passopisciaro, in the north of the Etna valley. It is, he says, the "côte de Nuits" of Etna for the great diversity of its wines spread over many locations (contrade) at different altitudes. The climate is continental and harsh, even snowy in winter, but very warm and sunny from June to September. The altitude gives the wines tension and elegance. The vines coexist with a Mediterranean mixed crop: olive trees, almond trees, vegetable gardens... (Frank also produces olive oil). The vines range in age from forty to over one hundred years. The nineteen plots, covering twenty-four hectares in total, are all at altitude, between 600 and 900 meters, on several volcanic flows. They are all vinified separately: Frank decides on the blend based on the quality of the wines from each plot. In general, seven or eight vintages are produced in addition to the generic wines (rosé, basic red, and white). The soils are made of different types of basalt, between powder and rock, with perfect drainage that allows for concentrated and refined wines. Nerello Mascalese dominates the estate's grape varieties. This great traditional red grape variety from the northern valley of Etna is the only grape variety used in the great vintages. Its growing cycle is long, allowing the vine to work the soil and capture its minerality in the fruit. Other grape varieties include: Nerello Cappuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Cattaratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante, etc.
Magma Rouge 2013
Frank Cornelissen
Frank Cornelissen's grand cru is, as expected, a wine for aging. It reveals the remarkable depth of the Nerello Mascalese grape variety, grown on the Barbabecchi plot, planted with ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines, over a hundred years old, at an altitude of 910 meters on the slopes of Mount Etna. Skin maceration takes place for sixty days on destemmed and lightly crushed grapes. No fining, no sulfites, and light filtration before bottling. With a very dense texture, this red is more mineral than fruity (the fruit notes are candied: blackberry, prune, all roundness and melted tannins). Its depth and power are balanced by great freshness. Possibility of traces of volatile acidity, quickly vanished with decanting.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Adonis Rouge 2020
La Grapperie
After fifteen months of barrel aging, Adonis takes on a beautiful garnet color, giving way to a complex nose of red fruits: strawberry, cherry, and more. On the palate, it offers a beautiful structure between pepper and raspberry. Spicy and peppery, with a lovely sweet, yeasty note on the attack that adds to its deliciousness. Made from 100% Pineau d'Aunis, a fiery and light grape variety, one of the oldest in the Loire Valley, Adonis comes from old vines planted in the Coteaux du Loir appellation, on soils predominantly composed of clay and flint. The harvest is hand-picked and transported by horse. After destemming and light crushing, it is fermented with indigenous yeasts. Drink as an aperitif to warm up, or serve on the table for varied and refined pairings.
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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. His principle, he confides, is "to produce complex, rich wines with good aging potential and imbued with the minerality of their terroir." The vines are located on hillsides, between 60 and 120 meters above sea level, protected from the north winds by the Bercé forest. Depending on the altitude, the terroirs are dominated by clay (at the bottom of the slope), flint (mid-slope), or sand (on the higher ground). The 60-hectare vineyard comprises around fifteen plots. The grape varieties are the two traditionally authorized varieties in the appellation: Chenin for the whites and Pineau d'Aunis for 90% of the reds, the remainder consisting of a few ares of Côt, Gamay, and Grolleau. The average age of the vines is seventy years, including almost two hectares of century-old vines and one and a half hectares of vines aged sixty to eighty years. Convinced of the enormous potential that these old vines can bring to his vintages, Renaud is meticulous in restoring the vineyard. The entire estate is cultivated organically. The soils are worked and all viticultural interventions are manual, including the harvests, carried out at full maturity, which is reflected in the fullness and smoothness of the wines. For the reds, the Pineaux d'Aunis are 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 and then poured into barrels by gravity. Fermentation takes place in barrels, on indigenous yeasts, with complete malolactic fermentation, for at least eighteen months and sometimes up to thirty-six months.
Himmel auf Erden Blanc 2018
Christian Tschida
Heaven on Earth: this is the name of this dry white wine made from destemmed and crushed Weissburgunder, Scheurebe, and a touch of Muscat grapes, with a brief skin maceration. Aged for a year in large barrels, bottled unfiltered and unsulfured. The title of a work by Austrian artist Alfred Hrdlicka, known for his iconoclastic style, inspired the name of the cuvée. Crisp, sweet, and romantic without lacking complexity, this wine offers great aromatic precision and superb texture. A masterpiece for a romantic dinner, pikeperch with beurre blanc or grilled turbot.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
A light, highly digestible red, designed for immediate enjoyment. Radically Glou 2024 is an invitation to conviviality and sharing.
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With a free and natural spirit, Les Vignes du Fresche offers an unadorned wine where drinkability is paramount. The grapes are grown without chemicals and vinified gently.
The color is clear and brilliant. The nose opens with aromas of crunchy red berries, with a floral touch. On the palate, the wine is supple, fluid, with very few tannins.
Freshness dominates, making the tasting easy and pleasant.
Serve slightly chilled, perfect with appetizers, tapas or simple meals with friends.