Vente privée –10 %

Vin de Lies White 2021/22 Magnum

Jean-Yves Péron

Vin de Lies is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine that Jean-Yves Péron makes every two vintages in his Savoyard cellars. It is based on a winemaking practice that is little known outside the industry, but which produces a highly regarded wine. It is not usually sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a treat that the winemaker bestows upon us, in magnum format no less.

Vinification

The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita, Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne… After racking the barrels and aging vats from all his terroirs (Savoyard and Italian), Jean-Yves gathers all the lees in a single vat to obtain Vin de lies. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red becomes smoother, sweeter, and the white is less tense, rounder. Jean-Yves Péron has gathered here the lees from all his 2021 whites and some from 2022.

Tasting

“It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron of this Vin de lies. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. Pairings: goes with everything.

Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron

Jean-Yves Péron is a talented embodiment of the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.

High-altitude biodynamics

Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.

Italo-Savoyard trade

Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.

Munjebel MC Red 2014

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel MC, an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine from Sicily, is produced by Frank Cornelissen. It is classified DOP (PDO) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Contrada Monte Colla, a very steep terraced plot, beautifully exposed to the sun and wind, directly opposite Mount Etna. We are pleased to offer this old vintage that showcases this wine at its peak of maturity and depth.

Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese vines, planted in 1946, grow on sandy-clay soil. The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottle. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
Rich and powerful, yet elegant, Munjebel MC is a bit like the hermitage of Etna, and the depth and density of this wine are enhanced by its age. Intense color of a deep, saturated red, notes of red rose and wild red fruits. Body, richness and thickness, aromatic palate supported by a fresh acidity. Pair it with red meats and Mediterranean dishes. Try a black ham from Bigorre or a grilled or roasted wagyu.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil can be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Côte de Nuits of Sicily." Frank Cornelissen's "contrade" are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern valley of Etna produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante...

Pinot Noir Red 2022

Domaine Einhart
Pinot Noir—it's all in the title—is a red wine from the Alsatian terroir, organic (Ecocert and AB labels) and natural, made from Pinot Noir. Classified as AOC Alsace, it is a model of its kind, much fuller-bodied and robust than the average Alsatian Pinot Noir. A serious wine that makes you happy.

Vinification
The thirty-year-old Pinot Noirs from which this wine is made grow on the muschelkalk (shell limestone) terroirs of Dittelsberg-Albermohn and are harvested by hand, then destemmed. Maceration, using indigenous yeasts, takes place over two weeks. Aging for one year on fine lees, in demi-muids, precedes bottling without filtration. From the vine to the cellar, this wine was made without any chemical additives or added sulfites.

Tasting
The deep, purplish color of this Pinot Noir from the Einhart estate evokes black cherry: it is a velvety, ripe red, 100% Pinot Noir, with an intense, fragrant, and gently fruity aroma. The first nose is enhanced by aromas of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry) with a hint of freshness blended into a light vanilla woodiness. The second nose is more open, with aromas of blood orange, bitter almond, and kirsch. On the palate, the small fruits are still there, supported by present but well-melted tannins, and lead to a velvety finish resting on a lovely freshness. Plenty of persistence and length. Decant to express all its finesse and grace, and serve with red meats, roasts, stews, charcuterie and cured meats.

Learn more about Domaine Einhart
In the northern part of the Alsatian vineyard, Domaine Einhart is a ten-hectare family estate whose vines grow on the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. The soil is clay-limestone and rich in fossils (muschelkalk, or shell limestone and oolitic limestone, and lettenkohle or dolomitic limestone).

A family estate
Since 1990, Nicolas Einhart has been at the helm, now assisted by his son Théo. True to his commitments to the TIFLO association, of which he is co-founder, Nicolas devotes his winemaking work to protecting the land and biodiversity, making wine without inputs, refusing harmful phytosanitary products, and maintaining ecological refuge areas. His estate has been certified organic (Ecocert and AB) since 2011. The estate produces white wines from maceration or direct pressing and a Pinot Noir red.

The best of Alsatian terroirs
Entirely manual harvests, destemming of the bunches, light punching down, and delicate pressing are characteristic of the estate, as well as the separate vinification of each terroir, aging on lees, and the absence of filtration before bottling. The wines are pure grapes, lively, powerful, invigorating, and transcribe the minerality of these very beautiful terroirs in the Vosges foothills.

Magnum Gauthier White 2022,

Jean-Marc Dreyer

Gauthier is a dry, organic (AB label), biodynamic, and natural macerated white wine (orange wine) from Jean-Marc Dreyer, vinified in Alsace from all the grape varieties cultivated by the winemaker and without the addition of sulfites. Always packaged in magnums, it is simultaneously a rarity, a challenge, a curiosity, and a precious bottle to savor. Gauthier is the first name of a pilgrim on the Way of Saint James who spent some time with Jean-Marc Dreyer and took part in the work in the cellar. Having noticed that the blend of the fin de cuvée was excellent to drink, he suggested to Jean-Marc that he make a special cuvée: "It tastes so good, it would be a shame not to do it!" It tastes incredibly good, even, notes the winemaker.

Vinification

If you are familiar with Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range - a series of maceration vintages based on six Alsatian white grape varieties - you will find in Gauthier the synthesis and summary of this range. This wine is in fact the result of the blending of the fin de cuvée of each Origin reference. Once blended, the fin de cuvée are kept for two to three months in barrels to unify the flavors. No added sulfites, no additives, no filtration, indigenous yeasts.

Tasting

This atypical production makes Gauthier a full-bodied, characterful vintage, with a distinct touch of controlled oxidation. Gauthier, of course, contains no more sulfites or additives than the vintages it is made from. That is, zero. It is the synthesis of the Jean-Marc Dreyer estate, and that in itself is a tasting note: refer to each of the other vintages in the Origin range on this site to piece together the puzzle, or, better yet, drink it. With everything that goes with macerated Alsace whites, whether cheeses, local dishes, Lacaune charcuterie or Lyon.

Cailloux Rouge 2022

Patrick Bouju
Cailloux is an organic and natural red wine from Patrick Bouju, with no added sulfites and sourced from the Auvergne terroir. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a wine extremely representative of its terroir and a fine example of the winemaker's refined expertise. The magnum format amplifies its natural character and further accentuates its depth.

Vinification
Cailloux comes from Patrick Bouju's old Pinot Noir vines located in Madargue, near Riom, in Limagne. The terroir is basaltic, clay-limestone, marl-limestone, and sandy. The grapes macerate in whole bunches, and during fermentation, 1% of the estate's Chardonnay press juice is added. The wine is aged for a year in sandstone amphorae and barrels.

Tasting
Cailloux lives up to its name: wild, smoky, long, and stony, with great aromatic persistence. Marked by intensely mineral notes: stone, metal. The fruit is present and juicy. The overall impression is dense and concentrated; the wine can be drunk now but will still have a few years to drink. Serving temperature: 14-16 °C. Open twenty minutes before tasting or decant. You can pair it with charcuterie, salted meats, beef and all kinds of local cuisine.

Learn more about Patrick Bouju and the La Bohème estate
Near Billom, the Auvergne Tuscany, once covered with vines, is the privileged domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, a strain old grape variety. It is there, on these volcanic soils, that Patrick Bouju works, mainly with old vines.

Viticulture and trade
Patrick breathes new life into the often abandoned terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme and its indigenous grape varieties. Under the La Bohème estate, he operates as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. His exclusive Culinaries partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal…

A winemaker who lends a helping hand
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 winemaker friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a role model, a leader. Its noble, chiseled, distinguished, never trivial wines are immediately recognizable in the glass.

Armagnac The Morning Dew Spirits

Hootch

Entirely organic (Demeter, AB, and Eurofeuille labels), biodynamic, and artisanal, The Morning Dew can challenge your Armagnac experience with its transparency. It is indeed a young Armagnac, which owes its paleness to four years of aging in oak barrels. Classified VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale). Developed by Maurice de Mandelaëre (Domaine de Saoubis), the only biodynamic Armagnac producer, it is distributed by Hootch and has an alcohol content of 44%.

Development

The Morning Dew is made from 100% Baco grapes grown biodynamically in Bas-Armagnac and aged in 200-liter microbarrels. It is neither reduced nor filtered, and is free of coloring. No fertilizers or pesticides are used in the vineyards, and no additives are used in the cellar. Cuvée limited to 390 bottles.

Tasting

It's a real treat, a delicacy. Dried fruits, honey, and spices, an irresistible taste and floral notes. The silky, round palate reveals fruit, vanilla, and caramel. In its prime, it is suitable for all occasions: digestif, anytime tasting, dessert, or mixology. With this, dare to try a Iberian bellota ham, that's good, we have some. Or a ham from porc noir de Bigorre, a pastry or a dessert with Agen prunes.

Learn more about Hootch

Hootch is not a distillery but a distillery discoverer: created by two childhood friends, Martin and Thomas, it is dedicated to organic and artisanal French spirits, especially Armagnac. Its mission is to discover small Armagnac producers who have been made invisible by competition from foreign spirits. Hootch packages and distributes these Armagnacs to make them accessible to a wider audience.

Armagnacs by Maurice

Maurice de Mandelaëre is the only biodynamic Armagnac producer (Demeter and AB certified). Its sublime spirits are made with the utmost respect for the soil, the ecosystem, and the environment. Whether old, hors d'âge, or blanche Armagnac (not aged in barrels), Armagnacs by Maurice form the basis of Hootch's catalog. It follows that the entire production is organic, biodynamic, and artisanal.

Discover Armagnac

This alcohol, the oldest in France, is so much more than a drop to flavor a Landes tourtière or prune ice cream (even if we love those too)! Armagnac is complex, deep, multidimensional, the pure fruit of its terroir, and Hootch gives you a wonderful opportunity to discover it.

Zapoï Rouge 2020

Les En Hauts
Rather gurgling but with substance, silky and velvety, dry and tangy, this delicious and indulgent wine offers a rather animal nose with notes of hay. On the palate, cherry, a lovely length, and a nice acidity. Zapoï, a cuvée from the Les En-Hauts project, is the result of the joint effort of winemakers Damien Coquelet and Frédéric Cossard. It comes from fifty-year-old Gamay vines growing in Beaujolais. It is the result of whole-bunch semicarbonic maceration, and is aged for ten months in concrete eggs.

The word "Zapoï" makes you think of Groland, obviously, but do you know the origin of the term? Zapoï is a Russian practice consisting of a binge lasting several days, the result of prolonged alcohol consumption. A proper zapoï should lead to a blackout (you don't remember anything), and regular awakenings where you get drunk again to avoid a hangover. In some cases, you wake up far from home in the snow. This scourge on life expectancy, fortunately, has only a very distant logical connection with the wine we are concerned with here. Let's just say that, presumably, the sound of the name appealed to the two winemakers.

Find out more
Les En-Hauts is not strictly speaking a wine estate but a project of vintages produced in partnership between Damien Coquelet and Frédéric Cossard. These two great figures of Burgundy viticulture—yes, Beaujolais is in Burgundy—had every reason to join forces to create colorful and flavorful vintages together.

Frédéric Cossard is a biodynamic and natural star of Burgundy winemaking, who gives voice to Burgundy's terroirs and wines, undeformed by agricultural chemicals. His vintages are pure and elegant without artifice and are among the most sought-after in Burgundy. His practice is not limited to Burgundy, as some vintages are made from grapes purchased in other regions. His 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.

Damien Coquelet, for his part, is the worthy successor of the great organic winegrowers to whom we owe the advent of nature in the Beaujolais region: he is the son-in-law of Georges Descombes and Jean Foillard was his mentor, continuators of the pioneering work of Jules Chauvet and Marcel Lapierre. Owning nine hectares in Morgon on granite-sandy soils, he cultivates two and a half hectares plus a few leased vines: in all, four hectares on the legendary Côte du Py. A specialist in Morgons that Morgonnent and Chiroubles that Chiroublent, he embodies the true nature of Beaujolais.

Vin de France Syrah Red 2022,

Domaine des Miquettes

This pure Syrah red wine from the Rhône Valley, organic and natural (Ecocert certified), is classified as a Vin de France. It asserts itself with a noble simplicity, typical of the wines of Domaine des Miquettes, produced on schist and granite soils. Its full name is: Biou une canou que té fara dé bé (“drink a cannon that will do you good”).

Vinification

Made from vines planted in Ardèche, on plots with light soils of black mica granite, schist and gneiss on a granite base, this natural Syrah ferments on the skins in terracotta containers and is aged for six months.

Tasting

Less dense and less full-bodied than the Saint-Joseph from Domaine des Miquettes, this This organic and natural Syrah is loaded with black fruits, blackcurrant, red fruits (wild strawberry), notes of tobacco and leather. The red fruits noticeable on the nose give way to a velvety, peppery and raspberry palate. Pair it with stews, red meats and game. It is also made for black truffle and we imagine it perfectly with a cassoulet.

Learn more about Domaine des Miquettes

Domaine des Miquettes, in the Saint-Joseph appellation (Ardèche), is run by Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille, who are passionate about Georgian winemaking techniques. At the heart of this centuries-old viticulture is the kvevri, the buried jar where the entire winemaking process takes place. They also have unburied tinajas (Spanish jars) for fermentation and maceration, the kvevris being used for aging. No sulfites are added to the wines of Domaine des Miquettes. The astringency of the tannins is polished by the terracotta, which produces a velvety texture, a fruity and supple substance.

The Estate

Paul Estève learned his trade with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two great figures of natural wine in the Rhône Valley. With Chrystelle, he gradually rebuilt the family estate until it reached 4.3 hectares. The plots, located between 300 and 450 meters above sea level, rest on a granite base with light mica and gneiss soils. The agriculture is organic (Ecocert certified) and biodynamic. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe, and the harvest is manual. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work or winemaking.

Savigny les Beaune les Gollardes Rouge 2021

Domaine de Chassorney
This supple and fruity Pinot Noir, graced with delicious notes of licorice, offers beautiful concentration, great finesse, and freshness. Full-bodied and generous, with a savory, slightly smoky finish. Full of finesse and red fruit, this Burgundy from the Les Gollardes climate (on the northern part of the Savigny-les-Beaune valley, gravelly soil, southern exposure) will benefit from a few years in the cellar to express its full potential. Its aging potential is around ten years.

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 Chassorney estate 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 company 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, as vintages are made from grapes purchased in the Jura, Languedoc and elsewhere. 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.

Magnum Gauthier Blanc 2021

Jean-Marc Dreyer
Here's a rarity, a curiosity, a challenge, and a precious bottle. If you're already familiar with Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range, a series of maceration cuvées based on the six Alsatian white grape varieties—Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, and Muscat—you'll find this one, in a way, the synthesis and summary of that range. For good reason: it's the result of blending the fin de cuvée of each Origin reference after bottling. But why Gauthier? It's the first name of a pilgrim on the road to Santiago de Compostela who spent some time with Jean-Marc Dreyer and took part in the work in the cellar. After noting that this blend of fine vintages was excellent to drink, he suggested that Jean-Marc bottle it and make it into a special vintage. "It tastes so good, it would be a shame not to!" It tastes incredibly good, in fact, notes the winemaker. So this vintage is naturally named in honor of Gauthier. Before bottling, Gauthier is kept for two to three months in barrels to marry the flavors and give unity to the wine. This unusual decision has produced a vintage in its own right, delicious, full of fullness and character, with a distinct touch of controlled oxidation. Gauthier is always packaged in magnums and, of course, contains no more sulfites or additives than the vintages from which it is composed. That is to say, zero.

To find out more
“Maceration is a tradition in Alsace!” says Jean-Marc Dreyer, adding that direct pressing in this region is a modern invention, linked to the advent of electricity. In the past, people worked by hand and let the grapes macerate before sending the marc to the press.” Whole-bunch maceration is Jean-Marc Dreyer’s signature and represents 85% of the estate’s production, the rest consisting of direct-pressed whites, often aged using controlled oxidation. Jean-Marc succeeds several generations of his family at the Dreyer & Fils estate, established in 1830 between Obernai and Molsheim. Upon taking over the estate, he immediately opted for biodynamics, but hesitated for a while between several methods: at first, his wines were more oaky, aged in new barrels with stirring. Then, a sweet period: all his wines contain residual sugar. In 2008, he tried vinifying without any sulfur and found his direction: the following winter, upon returning from the pilgrimage to Compostela, he swore never to add sulfur to any wine again. Having made this decision, he affirmed his style around skin maceration, quite extensive, chiseled, always surprising on Alsatian grape varieties, bringing out their structure without sacrificing their delicacy. Jean-Marc works in single-varietal or blended cuvées and also produces Pinot Noir reds of surprising depth.

Gewurztraminer Origin Blanc 2021

Jean-Marc Dreyer
Fragrant, powerful, sumptuous, disconcerting, addictive, layered, and surprisingly complex, Gewurztraminer Origin is Gewurztraminer as you've come to expect it, with a super-powerful aromatic profile, without the sugar commonly associated with this grape variety. Jean-Marc Dreyer's Origin range is dedicated to single-varietal cuvées based on Alsatian varieties, and this one gives a multidimensional nature to a grape variety that proves it has never had its last word. Decidedly orange, this macerated Gewurztraminer is the answer to those who tend to find this grape variety heady and syrupy: all the sugars have been eaten, leaving an extraordinary richness of aromas, naked and unvarnished. The mango, ylang-ylang, the bouquet of flowers and exotic fruits are all there, enhanced by a dry and straight, unsweetened structure. This wine calls out for foie gras, but it can be drunk with anything. Biodynamic method, fermentation by indigenous yeasts, unfiltered, unclarified, no sulfites added in the vineyard or in the cellar.

Find out more
"Maceration in Alsace is a tradition!" says Jean-Marc Dreyer, adding that direct pressing in this region is a modern invention, linked to the advent of electricity. In the past, we worked by hand and let the grapes macerate before sending the marc to the press. " Whole bunch maceration is Jean-Marc Dreyer's signature and represents 85% of the estate's production, the rest consisting of direct-pressed whites, often aged using controlled oxidation. Jean-Marc succeeds several generations of his family at the Dreyer & Fils estate, created in 1830 between Obernai and Molsheim. Upon taking over the estate, he immediately opted for biodynamics, but he hesitated for a while between several methods: at the beginning, his wines were more oaky, aged in new barrels with stirring. Then, a sweet period: all his wines contain residual sugar. In 2008, he tried vinifying without any sulfur and found his direction: the following winter, upon returning from the pilgrimage to Compostela, he swore never to add sulfur to any wine again. Having made this decision, he asserts his style around skin maceration, quite advanced, chiseled, always surprising on Alsatian grape varieties, of which it brings out the structure without sacrificing the delicacy. Jean-Marc works in single-varietal or blended vintages and also produces Pinot Noir reds of surprising depth.

Vin de France Cuvée Madloba White 2020

Paul Estève

Madloba blanc is an orange wine that asserts itself from the first intensely floral nose, full of character and depth. The floral nature is confirmed on the palate with an abundance of tea rose, accompanied by a surprising, exotic expression of lychee and mango. With a rather rich and dense body, the freshness acts as a balance, and lovely bitter touches mark the finish. This white Madloba ("thank you" in Georgian) is produced in the Saint-Joseph AOP. It is a blend of 50% Marsanne and 50% Viognier. The vines, almost forty years old, are planted at an altitude of 350 meters, on a hillside plot with granite and black mica soils. The two grape varieties are fermented together for six months in tinajas, unburied terracotta jars, and after pressing the wine returns to the tinaja for six months of aging. This aging method promotes the wine's texture and develops the fruit. Decant one hour before serving. Perfect for oriental, Asian, and exotic cuisines in general.

Find out more
Paul Estève and Chrystelle Vareille are the creators of the Domaine des Miquettes, whose great specificity is the use of Georgian techniques. They are passionate about this Caucasian country, the cradle of wine, where eight thousand year old winemaking techniques are still used. At the heart of this viticulture is the qvevri, the buried jar where all the winemaking takes place: fermentation with skin maceration and aging. They set out to explore this country and returned with the decision to age all their wines in buried jars. They have twenty-six, but distinguish between tinajas (Spanish jars) for fermentation-maceration and buried "amphorae" for aging. No sulfur is added. For both reds and whites, the terracotta erases astringency and transmutes it into a velvety texture, a fruity and supple material.
The estate, located in Ardèche, is south of the Saint-Joseph appellation. Paul trained with René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, two great figures of natural wine in the Rhône Valley. With Chrystelle, he began by taking over Paul's family farm with two ares of vines, then in 2004 the entire estate, which now covers 4.3 hectares. The white grape varieties are located around the house, the red grape varieties are planted on steep hillsides, between 300 and 450 meters above sea level. The plots rest on a granite base with light soils: black mica granite, schist and gneiss. Everything is cultivated organically (Ecocert) with biodynamic practices. The vines are cared for and fortified using plant decoctions and clay. The soils are worked by horse or winch and pickaxe. No chemical inputs are added to the vineyard work. The harvest is entirely manual.

Es d’aqui Trachéo Red 2019

Jean-Louis Pinto

A superb wine, refined and fresh, beautifully fruity. A nose of raspberry, rose, licorice, and Languedoc garrigue. On the palate, very well-integrated tannins. Beautiful energy, sunshine, and plenty of structure. This is a pure Grenache, made from grapes grown in the schist soils of Cabrerolles, in the Faugères region. It has a aging potential of six or seven years, but can be enjoyed now. The harvest macerates for twenty-three days in whole bunches and the wine is aged in resin vats.

To find out more

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 (“It’s, it’s from here”) that he gave to his winemaking business, located in Moulin-Neuf, a town near Aude, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century. Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by other winegrowers, his friends, in whom he has complete confidence. He doesn’t just buy the product, he monitors the fruit set, the ripening, and makes regular visits until August, in order to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies it at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations with whole bunches. A three-week maceration is common for him, as are very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga, see link). His collection area extends throughout the Languedoc, particularly in the Hérault, around Adissan, Faugères and Saint-Chinian, as well as in the Aude (Limoux) and Tarn (Gaillac), two terroirs that are dear to him. It turns out that the typical Languedoc soils – schist, basalt, pebbles, clay-siliceous – particularly appeal to him for the freshness they give to the wines. "I make wines from the South," he says. "I especially look for terroirs that give freshness, even if the wines have an alcohol content of 14%." » The grape varieties are, of course, typically Languedoc: Grenache, Carignan, Mauzac, Cinsault, Braucol, Duras and Sauvignon. The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control the extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline side." The soil, the location, as we understand it, are of the utmost importance to him: once again, the name of his estate Es d'Aqui was not chosen by chance.

Magnum Munjebel MC 2016

Frank Cornelissen
This pure Nerello Mascalese comes from the Contrada Monte Colla, a very steep, terraced plot with magnificent sun and wind exposure, directly opposite Mount Etna. The soil is sandy clay. The vines, planted in 1946, produce a rich, powerful, and elegant wine. It's a bit like Etna's hermitage. The harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, then macerated for sixty days. No fining, filtration before bottling.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Munjebel PA Red 2016

Frank Cornelissen
This pure Nerello Mascalese comes from the plot of old vines (sixty years old) called Porcaria, in the Contrada Feudo di Mezzo, at an altitude of 640 meters. Maturation is not facilitated by the depth of the soil in the case of a wet vintage, but what a reward upon tasting! Power, refined elegance, an accomplished wine.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Ranciolytique Red 2010

Domaine La Sorga

The Grenache vines from which this red wine is produced are located in Lagrasse, in the Corbières region, on clay-limestone and ferruginous soils. After a nine-month whole-bunch maceration, the wine is aged in demijohns and then in old barrels for eighteen months. This wine possesses sweet aromas of candied grapes, chocolate, and cherry, making it an excellent companion to cheese, a tangy dessert, or chocolate mousse. It can be aged for twenty years.

A natural wine with no added sulfites.

Magnum Munjebel VA White 2017

Frank Cornelissen

From the Vigne Alte, the highest plots on the estate, this white is harvested between 900 and 1,000 meters above sea level on ungrafted vines. It is composed of Grecanico Dorato (60%), Carricante (10%), and Coda di Volpe (30%). Depth, density, acidity, minerality, and texture: a supremely elegant white wine, to be paired with the finest seafood.

Natural wine with no added sulfites.