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1048 products
Vervain by Stephane Spirits
After Vincent Granier created his vervain, his brother Stéphane wanted to make his own version: here it is. Entirely organic and artisanal, sourced locally, it's the big brother's vervain. Its production is different, as is its taste.
The Plant
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) is a favorite in cottage gardens. A member of the Verbenaceae family, it is cultivated for its fragrant leaves, with a slight hint of lemon peel. It is tonic, calming, fever-reducing, antispasmodic, and digestive. The one infused for this liqueur was grown organically and harvested by hand in the Alps.
Production
Stéphane's initial recipe is identical to that of Vincent's Vervain (link), but it is aged for six months in vats to "settle," then it is passed through a barrel of arranged rum, which gives it a different, more sophisticated taste and olfactory envelope. Lemon zest from Menton, biodynamic Egyptian lemongrass, and organic coriander seeds are also present.
Tasting
The reddish-brown color is more intense and deeper, the nose more vanilla and caramelized due to the aging in wood. More powerful on the palate too: roasted aromas of old rum coat those of the plants. To be enjoyed as an aperitif over ice, as a digestif, as a long drink and to be paired with high-end hams: Ibérico de bellota from Don Bardem, the Gascon from Porc Noir de Bigorre, or the delicious beef hams from Maison Aitana. But if you want to pair it with chocolate, that works very well too!
To the vervain are added organic lemon zest (from Menton), organic coriander seeds and lemongrass grown biodynamically in Egypt (the closest and most eco-friendly place to find 100% natural lemongrass). The plants and spices are infused in natural water from the Boubioz spring, near Lake Annecy, and the alcohol is made from 100% organic wheat. Organic sugar is produced in the Palatine Forest.
Learn more about Granier liqueurs
The Granier liqueur factory—two brothers, Vincent and Stéphane Granier—makes artisanal liqueurs from the Haute-Savoie region. Flavor, sweetness, and balance are their great qualities, resulting from a meticulous and measured infusion technique to minimize extraction.
Wild or organically grown
Plants grown organically, or picked in the mountains surrounding Annecy, are obtained through short supply chains and, for this reason, reflect the flora of the steep meadows or gardens of Haute-Savoie. Everything is organic and additive-free, from the initial infusion to bottling.
Intact flavors
During the tasting, we were amazed by the Granier liqueurs, one after the other. Never before have such fresh plant flavors been conveyed to us by liqueurs. We have the sensation of tasting the plant itself, infused in all its singularity, supported by just the right amount of organic sugar (that is to say, little) produced in the Palatine Forest and just the right amount of alcohol. An organic beer alcohol that allows the plant to convey its message without interference. Not only is it delicious, but it's also an excellent digestif. Vervain, genepi, gentian, mint, or meadowsweet, we guarantee you: you'll have a good time.
Génépi Spirits
Liqueurs Granier
Génépi is "the" Savoyard liqueur; it doesn't get more regional than this. It's entirely organic and artisanal, made by the Granier brothers in the Annecy region and sourced locally.
The Plant
The name "génépi" refers to a family of small alpine wormwoods of the genus Artemisia that are harvested between 2,500 and 3,500 meters above sea level. These highly aromatic and medicinal plants (fighting colds, viral illnesses and digestive disorders) are the main ingredient of the most emblematic liqueur of Haute-Savoie.
Production
Génépi is harvested in the Alps and dried before infusion in 96% organic wheat alcohol, before blending with an organic sugar syrup made by a landowner harvesting in the Palatine Forest. The water comes from the Boubioz spring, near Lake Annecy. No additives are added during production. The liqueur, aged in rum barrels, includes coriander seeds and lemon zest. Unlimited aging potential.
Tasting
Floral, aromatic and of great purity, this liqueur flies the flag of Alpine génépi high. The balsamic note of génépi initially manifests itself with great amplitude and persists in the mouth, supported by light spices (coriander and lemon). A success, to be associated with raw fish or smoked fish of all kinds and of course smoked salmon. The best pairing will be with a raclette.
Learn more about Granier liqueurs
The Granier liqueur factory — two brothers, Vincent and Stéphane Granier — produces artisanal liqueurs from the Haute-Savoie region. Flavor, sweetness, and balance are their great qualities, resulting from a meticulous and measured infusion technique to minimize extraction.
Wild or organically grown
Plants grown organically, or picked in the mountains surrounding Annecy, are obtained through short supply chains and for this reason reflect the flora of the steep meadows or gardens of Haute-Savoie. Everything is organic and without additives, from the initial infusion to bottling.
Intact flavors
During the tasting, we were amazed by the Granier liqueurs, one after the other. Never have such fresh plant flavors been restored to us by liqueurs. We have the sensation of tasting the plant itself, infused in all its singularity, supported by just the right amount of sugar (that is to say, little) organically produced in the Palatine Forest and just the right amount of alcohol. An organic beer alcohol that allows the plant to convey its message without interference. Not only is it delicious, but it's also an excellent digestif. Verbena, genepi, gentian, mint, or meadowsweet—we guarantee you'll have a great time.
Vin paillé Red 2012
Marie and Vincent Tricot
Marie and Vincent Tricot's Vin de paille is undoubtedly a curiosity: it's a sweet wine made from 100% Auvergne Gamay, entirely organic and natural, made like a Vin de paille from the Jura. The harvest is dried on straw in an attic before pressing. We're not used to Gamay vinified this way, or even red wine vinified this way.
It's an experiment, but the result more than justifies the boldness. Drying on straw concentrates the sugar in the grape berries and accentuates the flavors. Only a drop remains in each berry, but what a drop! Sweet, caressing, syrupy, complex, this Vin de paille is a delight. Its color is not a pure red but an amber, and the nose is a veritable basket of slightly jammy fruits: plum, prune, raisins, strawberry. It is possible that a refermentation takes place in the bottle, which can give a sparkling attack to this wine, but it disappears quickly. On the palate, a delicious sweetness, lots of strawberry and pleasantness. Very easy to drink.
To find out more
Among the generation of Auvergne winemakers who, at the dawn of the 21st century, are resurrecting the vineyards of this beautiful volcanic province of the Massif Central in organic and natural ways, Marie and Vincent Tricot are pioneers, and their name is well known to those who have long loved natural wine. After a varied winegrowing journey that took them from Beaujolais to Chile and from Chile to Costières-de-Nîmes, they landed in Auvergne, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, in the commune of Orcet where they took over Claude Prugnard's vineyard, a land that had not seen the slightest chemical input for around thirty years. The estate is located on a hillside, on the left bank of the Allier, in a volcanic clay-limestone area neighboring the vineyards of Châteaugay, Chanturgue and Corent. They acquired it in 2003 and, since then, have been making wines from Auvergne Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a little Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. These rare and sought-after wines are mainly sold directly. They have a straight and flamboyant profile, and express themselves with as much character as simplicity.
In Absentia Red 2018
Entirely produced in the north of El Bierzo from trousseau (locally called bastarda) on various quartz-clay-limestone plots at an altitude of 550 meters. The vines are seventy to ninety years old. Maceration lasts three to four days in chestnut vats, followed by nine months of aging in French oak barrels. No filtration, no added sulfites. Dark garnet color, smoky and fruity nose (trousseau-style: black cherry and raspberry), with a characteristic hint of bitter cocoa and peony. The mouthfeel is full and velvety, the flavor is fruity and smoky, both crisp and mineral. The delicious finish calls for another sip... Serve with roasted game birds, rare pigeon, roast venison, coq au vin, or chicken mole poblano. In a carafe, it will fully express its charms.
Calvados "Premium 20 Years"
Domaine de la Flaguerie
Calvados Premium 20 Years is an amber treasure, aged for two decades in oak barrels. It reveals powerful aromas of caramelized fruit, baked apple, and smoked wood, with a long finish. Best reserved for after-dinner drinks, this exceptional spirit is best enjoyed gently warmed in the glass to savor all its aromatic nuances.
Calvados "Premium 6 Years"
Domaine de la Flaguerie
The Calvados Premium 6 Years seduces with its golden color and fruity aromas of fresh apples. Aged in barrels for six years, it reveals floral and minty notes on the nose. On the palate, its straightforward attack gives way to a beautiful tonicity and a spicy finish.
Versatile, this Calvados can be enjoyed neat, over ice, or in cocktails, and embodies traditional Norman expertise.
Zestes d'Amour Bitter Orange Eau-de-vie,
Sentema Distillery
An explosion of citrus in an exceptional spirit
Les Zestes d’Oranges Amères, carefully distilled from organic Provence wine eau-de-vie, captures the essence of bitter oranges from Le Castellet and sweet oranges from Menton. Less sweet than a classic liqueur, this deeply aromatic spirit evokes the great classic of "triple sec", revisited here with finesse and modernity.
Delicious on its own over ice, with tonic or in cocktails, it brightens up any occasion with its freshness and complexity.
To find out more
The Sentema Distillery offers exceptional spirits, created on an eau-de-vie of organic Provence wines, distilled by hand on copper pot stills, made entirely with French plants and fruits, for unique recipes with frank and natural flavors.
Organic Copalli Barrel Rested Rum
Certified organic from soil to bottle (Eurofeuille label), Copalli Barrel-Rested Rum Organic is an organic amber rum from the tropical forests of Belize, a green and preserved environment. It is the same rum as Copalli White Rum Organic after a few months of aging in oak barrels. Copalli Distillery, founded by Will Maheia and Todd Robinson, supports local communities by being the largest employer in southern Belize through its Copal Tree sugarcane plantation, distillery, and lodge. The cane varieties are traditional (noble cane and black cane), and all cultivation and manufacturing waste is recycled on the plantation. Copalli, in addition to protecting the environment, subsidizes the education of its employees' children.
Production
After double distillation in a pot still (a Charentais-style copper still), this pure cane juice rum (as opposed to the less rare molasses rums), entirely organic, is aged for eight months in bourbon barrels. Copalli Barrel-Rested Rum is made from only four ingredients: organic sugarcane, pure canopy water, local yeasts, and barrel wood with its bourbon aromas.
Tasting
Incredibly aromatic. Deep, clear amber color, with a nose of Chinese oolong tea and precious wood. This Copalli Barrel-Rested Rum opens with woody notes on the nose and palate: green, cocoa bean, leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, tobacco, hot powder, sandalwood, and oud wood. The finish is long, rich, and complex. A rum to drink on its own or in a cocktail. It can also accompany a spicy meal. If you use it in cooking, be careful: consider it as a spice and not as an alcohol for pancakes.
L’Explorateur du goût: to find out more
This organic Copalli White Rum was selected by L’Explorateur du goût, a project by François Sommer in search of the best spirits from around the world. Its conditions: ecological concern (Bcorp label for compliance with social and environmental standards; organic certification for most of the references, etc.), attention to people and the terroir (solid and lasting relationships with producers), quality of products and taste, originality. In the catalog: French spirits (cognac, calvados, etc.) and exotic spirits (whisky, rum, mezcal, etc.), not to mention liqueurs and tonics. Enough to delight any bartender, amateur mixologist, or simply demanding consumer.
i Vicini Moscato White 2022
I Vicini Moscato is an organic, biodynamic, and natural macerated (orange) dry white wine from Jean-Yves Péron. Vinified in Savoie using Muscat d'Asti. It is part of the I Vicini series of cuvées, vinified in Savoie using organic grapes from Northern Italy.
Vinification
The Muscats in this I Vicini series grow on very fine, calcareous-magnesian limestone soils, on a particularly cool site. Harvested by hand at good phenolic maturity, they macerate for two months in vats on the skins with punching down. Aged for one year in 300-liter barrels. No filtration, fining, or addition of sulfites.
Tasting
Straightness, tension, and freshness: this beautiful Muscat d'Asti offers the aromatic and musky nose specific to the grape variety, without any syrupy notes. A very present tannic structure balances the whole. On the palate, it is rich and powerful; we find the charming scent of Muscat in the retro-olfaction, but with the tension and freshness that Jean-Yves Péron loves for his dry whites. It is a great table wine, not really for an aperitif, but for gastronomy, no limits.
Learn more about Jean-Yves Péron
Jean-Yves Péron talentedly embodies the organic, biodynamic, and natural renaissance of the Savoyard vineyard, which is based on varied soils and numerous indigenous grape varieties (Jacquère, Altesse, Mondeuse, etc.). At his Chevaline winery in the Bauges region, he vinifies grapes from his plots in Conflans, near Albertville, and Fréterive, in the Isère valley.
High-altitude biodynamics
Jean-Yves Péron's work follows the principles of minimal intervention. On narrow, steep slopes, his hand-worked mountain vines in micro-plots receive no synthetic products, Jean-Yves preferring horsetail and nettle manure. All of Jean-Yves Péron's wines are sulfite-free, made from hand-harvested grapes, vinified in whole bunches and foot-trodden in the vat. For all vintages, the free-run and press are blended, then aged on lees for at least one year, in two- or three-wine barrels, amphorae or tuns, before final blending. They must be stored at a temperature below 18°C. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italo-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
i Vicini Barbera Red 2022
I Vicini Barbera by Jean-Yves Péron is an organic, biodynamic, and natural red wine. It is vinified in Savoie from Barbera grapes harvested in Piedmont.
Vinification
Barbera is grown in Asti and Alba. The second most widely used red grape variety in Italy after Sangiovese, it produces full-bodied, colorful wines with red fruits. Harvested by hand, no sulfites added, no filtration, no fining. Both Barberas are macerated for three months with punching down and undergo a fifteen-day carbonic maceration. The wine is aged for one year in 300-liter barrels.
Tasting
This I Vicini Barbera is a great wine in every sense of the word. Long, very fruity, generous, deep, with superb acidity resulting from a moderately ripe harvest, it is both serious and joyful, intense and concentrated. Finesse, minerality, tension, a beautiful, intense and colorful red color: it begs to accompany fine cuts of meat and roasts.
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.
Les Barrieux White 2022
Organic, biodynamic, and natural, Les Barrieux is a dry white wine from Savoie produced by Jean-Yves Péron on the schist-limestone soils of his Albertville plots. Classified as a Vin de France, it is a rare cuvée made from the Roussanne grape variety.
Vinification
The vinification of Les Barrieux, produced by hand, begins with two weeks of carbonic maceration. Aging lasts one year in 12-hl tuns and 300-liter barrels. This wine has not been filtered, fined, or sulphites added.
Tasting
Les Barrieux by Jean-Yves Péron is a macerated white wine with wonderful notes of leather, smoke, and candied quince, followed by a complex floral and citrus olfactory bouquet and preceding a long aromatic finish. Delicious, rich, full-bodied, powerful, it is a gastronomic wine that can withstand anything. It can accompany 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.
Ceci n'est pas un vin White 2023
Ceci n'est pas un vin is still a wine, white, dry, organic, and natural, with no added sulfites. Made in Beaujolais by Cyril of La Tribu Alonso, it is classified as a Vin de France. It is 100% Chardonnay, but there are twenty-eight different varieties in the bottle. Just as the red wine Ambre dissolve is inspired by Salvador Dalí, this one obviously alludes to Henri Magritte (see the label).
Vinification
The collection of twenty-eight Chardonnays from the ampelothèque, from which Ceci n’est pas un vin is made, is planted on a half-hectare plot on granite, with wild grass, agroforestry and no tillage. The vines, pruned in the goblet style, are between four and thirty years old. There are Chardonnays here of all tastes and colors (white, pink, muscaté, etc.), and it seems that the multiplicity of grape varieties gives a whole new face to this Chardonnay, unfortunately a little overused in the world of viticulture. "We are moving away from the boring Chardonnay," says Cyril. The manual harvest goes into direct pressing and, after a 48-hour settling process, only sees from the vat to its bottling. Alcoholic fermentation without starter culture using indigenous yeasts, malolactic fermentation also in fiberglass vats. Zero chemical inputs, in the vineyard and in the cellar, and zero added sulfites.
Tasting
Surprisingly, Ceci n’est pas un vin: the opposite of classic Chardonnay, it has great qualities of resistance. Solid, fine and balanced. A dry white wine with no added sulfites that has a very long shelf life once opened, it is rare and unique. It can last, recorked, for a whole week. On the nose and palate, it is a marvel of perfume and aroma, as if it offered the quintessence of Chardonnay through all its varieties. Salty, iodized, aromatic and floral, it evokes peach or apricot blossom, white peach, and its acidity-alcohol balance will allow it to be kept between 5 and 7 years. It can be drunk whenever you want, with oysters, shellfish, raw or smoked fish, tapas, fine starters and any elegant and refined cuisine.
Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.
A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.
The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.
Cahors Red 2018
A Cahors, quite simply: this 100% Malbec red wine, organic and natural, is produced by Danis Bessières and Domaine de l’Antenet in the Cahors AOC. It is, strictly speaking, Danis’s father’s Cahors, from a vintage that has already matured.
Vinification
The Malbec vines grow at Domaine de l’Antenet, in the Cahors region. The harvest is cultivated and vinified without additives or sulfites. "If I have the joy today of letting you taste these vintages from the past, it is thanks to the perseverance, talent and flair of my father. He knew very well how to give time the care to preserve the beautiful years, confident that he was in the capacity of well-made wine to travel the ages."
Tasting
Despite its six years of age, this Cahors from the Domaine de l'Antenet/Danis dans la vigne remains very marked by cherry, with body and noble aromas of an evolved wine that are beginning to manifest themselves: leather, undergrowth, hay, truffle, tobacco... Everything we love in Cahors. Powerful, full-bodied, but drinkable and very supple for the appellation.
Learn more about Danis dans la vigne
Under the name Danis dans la vigne, Danis Bessières vinifies organic grapes from the family estate, Domaine de l'Antenet, which was the first organic vineyard in Cahors in the early 1980s.
Organic and natural since 1983
Danis respects the principles established in the vineyard and winery by his grandfather and then his father: making wines without additives, organic and natural, from local grape varieties while respecting the environment. It was in 1983 that his grandfather obtained the organic label Lemaire-Boucher, followed by Nature & Progrès and then the organic labels AB and Eurofeuille. Danis Bessières continues in this vein.
Malbec, but not only
Malbec reigns supreme in the Cadurcian region, but Danis also uses Cabernets, Jurançon Noir, Merlot, and recently created grape varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Colombard as single-varietals. These experiments allow him to moderate the density and opacity of the main grape variety.
Borgonon Granate Red 2006,
Borgoñón Granate is an organic and natural red wine from Andalusia made from Pinot Noir. Classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), it is vinified by Cortijo Barranco Oscuro. As its name suggests, it draws inspiration from Burgundy. This 2006, which has had time to reflect, is one of the best vintages of this cuvée.
Vinification
This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted at an altitude of 1,280 meters on schist soils. The wine is aged for one year in old barrels.
Tasting
Borgoñón Granate is a beautifully atypical wine that displays remarkable density while being relatively clear and not very concentrated (a reference to Burgundy). Intense red fruits, cherries, melted and velvety tannins, and a long and seductive smoky finish. It ages well. Great balance, melted tannins, pair it with a beautiful grilled prime rib or Spanish canned fish. A pata negra ham? Certainly, it's a compatriot.
Learn more about Cortijo Barranco Oscuro
Manuel Valenzuela cultivates the highest vines in the world (1,368 meters), in Andalusia, on the Sierra Contraviesa. Barranco oscuro means "dark valley," a reminder of the original site of the property, which was moved at the end of the 19th century after the phylloxera crisis. In 1979, the estate was taken over by Manuel, who decided to use natural methods in preference to those of modern oenology.
A drop of 1,400 meters
At first, he bought grapes, but his goal was to replant vines. Currently, the twelve hectares of Cortijo Barranco Oscuro extend over a drop of almost 1,400 meters. On a poor, dry, schistose terroir, two localities concentrate the plots: Cerro Las Monjas at the very top and Hoyo y Cerro de Las Gayumbas lower down, near the winery buildings.
High-altitude wines
Strong thermal contrasts explain the freshness of the wines, produced without the addition of exogenous yeasts and without inputs in the vineyard or cellar. Although the estate is not certified organic due to the disillusionment that fraud in this area has brought Manuel, his estate is a member of the Spanish Association of Natural Wine Producers. His wines are straightforward and clean, without compromise: they give joy through the seriousness of the work that was necessary to produce them.
Vin de Lies White 2019/20 Magnum
Vin de Lies is an organic, biodynamic, and natural dry white wine that Jean-Yves Péron makes every two vintages in his Savoyard cellars. It is based on a viticultural practice that is little known outside the profession, but which produces a highly regarded wine. It is not normally sold commercially but reserved for the cellar team. Classified as a Vin de France, it is therefore a treat bestowed upon us by the winemaker. And I might as well tell you that the magnum format makes it an even more monumental treat... The roundness and polish of the wine are further enhanced;
Vinification
The lees wine method consists, after racking the barrels or aging tanks, of gathering all the lees in a single tank. These lees are suspended in a small quantity of wine, which is again decanted and recovered once or twice. Nourished by the lees, the red obtained in this way is smoother, softer, and the white is less tense, rounder. To make this vintage, Jean-Yves Péron combined the lees from all his 2019 whites and some of those from 2020 (thus bringing together all his terroirs, both Savoyard and Italian). The grape varieties include Jacquère, Muscat, Altesse, Mondeuse, Favorita (Vermentino), Muscat à Petit Grain, Roussanne…
Tasting
This is the true “house cuvée,” generally very popular. “It’s a wine for pleasure,” says Jean-Yves Péron. “It can be drunk anytime, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.!” We can predict this moment of grace for next winter, which is upon us as this cuvée is released. Pairings: it goes with everything. Beautiful poultry, fine fish, seafood and shellfish…
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. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Les Oeillets White 2021
Les Œillets is a dry white maceration wine harvested and vinified in Savoie by Jean-Yves Péron. Organic, biodynamic and natural, this is a 100% Jacquère white wine whose vines grow on clay-limestone soil, in the place called Les Marches, at the foot of Mont Granier.
Vinification
It is roughly the same terroir as that of La Petite Robe, harvested later to obtain greater phenolic maturity and a higher tannic concentration. Carbonic maceration for four or five days is followed by ten days of punching down in vats. At least one year of aging in 225-liter barrels. Neither fined, nor filtered, nor sulfited.
Tasting
Superbly structured, Les Œillets has chew, texture, a tannic mouthfeel and a note of controlled oxidation. The tension is strong, balanced by a note of apricot. Woody, with explosive minerality and beautiful tension, it is an atypical white, with powerful aromatic notes. Lots of fruit and candied citrus. With this, you can enjoy a good Bigorre black ham, unless a smoked salmon presents itself. Or, the best of the best, treat yourself: an exceptional beef ham from Maison Aitana, made from wagyu or black angus.
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. The grapes are vatted in whole bunches and undergo semi-carbonic maceration. Shortly before pressing, they are foot-trodden in the vat, then transferred to two- or three-wine barrels for twelve months of aging on lees, before blending and resting in the vat. No sulfites are added, or as little as possible, and the wines are not fined or filtered.
Italian-Savoyard trade
Since 2011, a trading activity has allowed Jean-Yves Péron to buy the harvest from neighboring organic winegrowers and to collaborate with winegrowers from Northern Italy: this is the I Vicini series, which allows him to diversify the terroirs and deepen his experiences in winemaking and aging.
Folle noire liqueur 2016,
This organic and natural folle noire liqueur from the Gaillac region (Tarn) bears the Eurofeuille and Nature & Progrès labels. It is made from grapes of the typical Gaillac variety called folle noire or Jurançon noir. This grape variety produces large, juicy bunches with a delicate flavor. An original recipe from the Cazottes distillery, without chemical pesticides, colorings, or additives.
Production
To obtain this folle noire liqueur, the grapes are harvested in mid-September and fermented naturally using indigenous yeasts. As soon as the juice reaches 2 to 3 degrees of alcohol, an organic brandy of the same grape variety, distilled on the estate by Laurent Cazottes, is added to stop the fermentation. This is called mutage sur grains (grain fortification). This method allows the best aromas to be preserved and the alcohol content to be moderated (18%).
Tasting
A lovely amber red color, a delicate taste of fresh grapes, round and fruity. The Folle Noire liqueur from the Cazottes estate is reminiscent of the best Cartagenes from Roussillon with its supple and melted tannins, its aromas of fresh grapes and candied plum. This organic and delicate spirit will be a perfect companion for cured meats of beef or pork, mature cheeses or blue-veined cheese, or red fruit desserts.
Learn more about the Cazottes distillery
Laurent Cazottes, winemaker, distiller, and natural liqueur maker, is a revealer of quintessences. In Villeneuve-sur-Vère, near Gaillac (Tarn), he cultivates a veritable Eden of biodiversity. On limestone soil, he cultivates fruit trees, vines, shrubs and vegetable plants, which he transforms into wines, eaux-de-vie and liqueurs.
Production secrets
First of all, the integrity of the fruit and the vine, cultivated in certified organic (Eurofeuille and Nature & Progrès labels) and biodynamically, then careful attention given to their maceration at perfect maturity in the estate's organic eau-de-vie, and finally a precise and light dosage of sugar.
The Cazottes touch
"Liqueur does not mean sweet," Laurent likes to say. The particularity of Cazottes liqueurs and eaux-de-vie is their fidelity to the raw material: it is the whole fruit that we have in our mouths, with all its nuances and its delicacy. They are low in alcohol, low in sugar: they are exceptional nectars.
Nails and Dust Red 2021
Behind this metallic and dusty appellation (the translation of the cuvée's name) lies a wine of character, lively and mineral, full of sap and vitality. It is made from Minervois Carignan grapes macerated and crushed for six days, resulting in a beautiful extraction of tannins that need to soften slightly. At the time of writing (March 2023), this wine still requires approximately one year of bottle aging before it can be optimally enjoyed. After this time, it will reveal all its passion and energy. An excellent companion to red meats, grilled meats, grilled sausages, and good times with friends.
Find out more
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 a lot in common: 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, all 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. Belly Wine Experiment's unique feature is the exoticism (in the literal sense) of its blends, with Catalan Xarello, for example, blending effortlessly with Puy-de-Dôme Gamay. The wines are made using semi-carbonic maceration, without the addition of chemical additives or excessive manipulation in the cellar. The winery is also known for its high-quality, vinous perries.
Grisou Rosé 2021
Belly Wine Experiment
Complex, refreshing, unusual, and delicious… A rosé, obviously, but with a fairly solid structure. One might guess from its name that it's a vin gris, and its color gives us the final hint. Grisou is a vin gris (therefore) quite typical of Belly Wine's experimental passion, since it is made from Carignan from the South and Pinot Gris from Heiligenstein (Alsace) grown on clay-siliceous soils. Two very different terroirs are united in one wine. Let's remember that Grisou, like Rosé, is a still wine with a pale color made from black grapes in short maceration. Here, it's a little more complicated since two-thirds of the grapes are directly pressed, the remaining third being crushed in whole bunches and macerated for four days. Disgorging takes place two months later. This wine is organically grown and has received no chemical inputs or sulfites, in the vineyard or in the cellar. As it plays on several levels, both light and straightforward, Grisou can allow for very wide pairings.
To 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 it in spades: 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.
Crac Rosé 2021
Belly Wine Experiment
Fresh, fruity, and pleasant, Crac is a vin gris, a still rosé wine made entirely or partially from black grapes. It generally undergoes a very short maceration, hence its light color. This is obtained by slow direct pressing (forty-eight hours) of Auvergne Gamays "sur limagne," or on the dark-colored sedimentary and volcanic soils that make up the Auvergne plain. This slow pressing, replacing a short maceration, allows for a gentle extraction of the grape's constituents and gives the wine its color. To these Auvergne Gamays are added a proportion of Pinot Gris from Alsace. Categorized as Vin de France, free from any chemical or sulfite additives in the vineyard or in the cellar, Crac spends a year aging on lees before bottling. This wine is produced using organic farming methods and has received no chemical or sulfite additives, in the vineyard or in the cellar. It will go very well with charcuterie, cured meats, and tapas of all kinds.
To 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 it is 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 specificity 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 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.
