Wines of the World

GB Blanc 2019

Partida Creus
Partida Creus is a superb Catalan estate, the creation of two Piedmontese winemakers from the Langhe region (where wine is well-known), Antonella Gerosa and Massimo Marchiori. They initially 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 found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will continue to make 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. This is why their estate is as important from a winemaking perspective as it is from a historical perspective - we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia.
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 but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction. This very beautiful white (almost orange) from Partida Creus is made from Grenache Blanc, also known as Garnacha Blanca. Bright, aromatic, and mineral, it is suitable for all occasions and all celebrations, as well as all food pairings. Serve well chilled.

Blurry Moon Gin 42° 50cl

Gimet Distillery

A tasting gin, organic and unfiltered, presented in a beautiful transparent glass sphere. The name Blurry Moon, "cloudy moon," refers to the hazy appearance produced by the gin's lack of filtration and the precipitate of essential oils it contains. It is made using the same basic London dry gin, a wheat distillate macerated with five botanicals: juniper, coriander, wild hops, lemongrass, and red cinchona. Cinchona, in particular, strongly influences the aromatic bouquet with a subtle bitterness. This artisanal gin offers superb freshness and notes of pine sap. Enjoy on its own or with a good tonic.

Cuvée 0.72+ (exclusive cuvée) Red 2019 Magnum

De Vini
Exclusive to Culinaries, 0.72+ red is a merchant cuvée produced by Christophe Bosque of the De Vini estate, located in the Nantes region. The vines from which it is produced, 80% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah, and 10% Viognier, are located in the Côtes du Rhône region, in Rochefort-du-Gard, and grow on a pebble-rich soil similar to that of nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Classified as a Vin de France, it has its counterpart in white.

Vinification
The vines are managed biodynamically and the grapes are macerated for two weeks on the skins and fermented on indigenous yeasts: no pumping over, no crushing, as little intervention as possible. Just a little punching down. No filtration, no fining, no sulfites.

Tasting
0.72+ red has a slightly dark ruby ​​color, with faded rose tones. This floral note is found on the nose and palate. The presence of white Viognier in this red blend gives this wine a floral side, a rather rare note of white flowers. A little prune, a complex yet light aromatic structure, a pleasant salivating side. This is a beautiful wine that still has good years ahead of it, especially in the magnum format which polishes all its qualities. Great length, great structure on the palate. 0.72+ is a robust wine that will pair well with solid dishes and anything containing truffles. Let's pair it without further ado with a nice grilled meat (a rib of beef from Maison Aitana) and let's heat up for the occasion a good truffle sauce from Maison Pébeyre.

Learn more about Christophe Bosque and De Vini
De Vini, along with the Vinilibre winery, is the multifaceted business of Christophe Bosque, originally from Saint-Nazaire. He has always been passionate about wine. We are particularly interested in his local creations, produced from his two-hectare vineyard and fermented in underground vats in the Nantes style—a true reinvention of Muscadet (outside the appellation) in natural form.

Gabbro Fondu
After spending years as a wine merchant, importer, and then wine merchant, this former cameraman, who holds a BTS in oenology and viticulture, acquired a few plots (two hectares) of Melon de Bourgogne vines in Gorges, Loire-Atlantique, near Clisson, in 2017. The soils there consist of gabbro on a granite substrate, a pedological configuration specific to the Nantes region and particularly to Clisson. Christophe is full of praise for this type of soil.

Muscadet for the better
Christophe's vintages may come from grapes purchased from the best French terroirs, particularly in Languedoc, but the winemaker retains a special affection for his vines, which he maintains with passion and attention to the terroir. A touch of humor and a sense of pun can be seen on his labels and in his appellations, but in the bottle, they are serious, off-the-beaten-track wines, just the way he likes them.

Le Blanc des Garennes White 2021

Fond Cyprès

A beautiful texture, with notes of citrus and exotic fruits. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier grown on the same plot: a southern blend that produces a truly southern white, classified as a Vin de France, original, balanced, fresh, structured by light maceration, fermented and aged in barrels. Its profile is atypical in Corbières. A distinctive feature: the plot was planted according to the desired wine, and chosen to face north to ensure good acidity. The three grape varieties are harvested at different ripeness levels. As soon as the Viognier (later) is ripe, everything is harvested together: the white Grenache is often overripe. This produces a very particular taste balance, between freshness, richness, and roundness. After direct pressing, the must is vinified in old 225-liter barrels, then aged for ten months. It can be kept for around ten years, if given time: all pairings suit it.

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This Languedoc estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already have a clear objective: "to produce southern wines that reflect us, wines with character attached to our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to obtain entirely natural wines, concentrates of terroir. In the old Corbières massif, they took over an old heart of an estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache vines, which had seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean and vibrant soils are ideal conditions for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. Vinification is carried out without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first evaluated by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. Fond Cyprès wines poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: pine forests, shaded springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the signature of the soil. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, plant environment and fruit expression, Fond Cyprès wines reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.

Toile de Fond White 2022

Fond Cyprès

Lovely texture, fluidity, citrus notes (lemon), and a seductive liveliness. We present to you for the first time Toile de Fond Blanc, the little white brother of Toile de Fond Rouge. This white wine, classified as a Vin de France, is very fresh, with non-filtration explaining its slightly cloudy color. A lovely, thirst-quenching white wine, it is made from Grenache Blanc and Roussanne grown on the same plot and therefore sharing the qualities of their native soil. These grapes are from the excellent 2022 harvest, vinified entirely in stainless steel vats and bottled in the spring. It's typically a summer wine, perfect with raw seafood, raw fish, and delicate tapas. Drink before fall.

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This Languedoc estate is built on solid foundations: its two winemakers, Rodolphe and Laetitia, are also descendants of winemakers. Even before planting their first vine, they already had a clear objective: "to make southern wines that reflect us, wines with character, rooted in our soils, with freshness and refined tannins." They want to create entirely natural wines, concentrated terroir. In the old Corbières massif, they are taking over an old heart of the estate already planted with abandoned Carignan and Grenache grapes, which have seen neither fertilizer nor pesticides for years: these clean, vibrant soils are ideal conditions for launching into natural wine. Around this historic heart, they first planted Grenache Noir and Syrah, then a plot of white grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. The estate has been Ecocert certified since 2010 and also complies with the Nature & Progrès charter. The vinification is done without the addition of sulfites or exogenous yeasts. "We make wines for pleasure," say Laetitia and Rodolphe. For them, natural wine is first assessed by taste, from the harvest. The vintages closely follow the plots, the musts are fruity, fluid, and complex. The wines of Fond Cyprès poetically evoke the estate's ecosystem and the vegetation that protects the plots: the pine forests, the shady springs, the beauty of the natural environment that brings freshness to the wines and leaves the soil's signature. Deliciously balanced between mineral imprint, vegetal environment and expression of fruit, the wines of Fond Cyprès reflect the South: the caress of its sun, but also the freshness of its shadows.

Es d'aqui Casse Tête Red 2020

Jean Louis Pinto

Seductive, deep, dense, with a strong personality, Casse-Tête is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Mourvèdre. The Cabernet comes from an alluvial terrace with large pebbles in the Tarn region, and the Mourvèdre from clay-limestone soil. The harvest macerates for twenty days in whole bunches and the aging is done on lees in sandstone jars.

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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 attacks of mildew 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). 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 are 14 degrees. " 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 place, 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.
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Combe du Temps White 2021,

Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps

La Combe du Temps Blanc is a cuvée from Les Vignes du Domaine du Temps, in Cabardès (Languedoc). Full-bodied and expressive, it is lively and dry with a lovely hint of melted wood. Elegance and a slightly rich note are traits found in all the whites from this estate. Its balance will delight everyone and open up numerous flavor pairings. The blend combines the North, West, and South: 60% Chenin, 20% Roussanne, and 20% Sémillon. Everything ferments naturally, using indigenous yeasts, and La Combe du Temps is aged for a year in old oak barrels. No sulfites are added.

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The Domaine du Temps 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 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.

Armagnac Laballe "Résistance"

Vintage Spirit Garage

The Laudet family, in Capbreton (Landes), has been making wine and distilling eaux-de-vie for eight generations. The old still is called Marie-Jeanne. The current generation, Cyril and Julie, are nevertheless not afraid to challenge the codes of Armagnac. Made from 100% of the late-ripening, phylloxera-resistant Baco hybrid grape variety (hence the name of the vintage), this is the result of a blend of six Armagnacs aged at least six years: here 2009, 2010 and 2012. The color is brilliant; the nose is intense, fresh and complex, developing aromas of apple, citrus and roasted coffee. The palate is round and delicious, ending with liquorice and sweet spices.

MUZ Vermouth Spirits 2020,

Partida Creus
MUZ Ver-Muz Vermouth is a fruity, smooth, and original treat, perfect for sharing with friends. Black berries, blackcurrant, blackberry, a slight bitterness, and a slight sweetness: in Catalonia, red vermouth is serious business, sipped alongside tapas in many establishments. As a result, you can drink it as an aperitif or with a meal; don't hesitate, that's what they do there. Partida Creus offers a natural version of this Iberian classic of exceptional quality, well-structured, with notes of sweet black berries, light and pleasant on the palate. To achieve this alchemic work that is MUZ Ver-Muz Vermouth, the blend requires a barrel of red wine, another of young wine, and a third of dry white wine, all with the addition of a secret blend of aromatic herbs. A great vermouth.

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Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking 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 soon they 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.

CX Cartoixa Ancestral Sparkling White 2019,

Partida Creus
A true splendor, aromatic, and fragrant! The nose of CX Cartoixà Ancestral, a magnificent natural sparkling wine with a lovely light salmon color, evokes aromas of white fruits, white flowers, wild strawberry, and white peach. The palate is full of pleasure, lively, and deliciously fresh, with notes of peach (white and yellow) and ripe strawberry. Tender but not overly sweet. Drink very chilled. The ancestral sparkling vinification method is a definite success for the native Catalan Cartoixà Vermell grape variety. The harvest is hand-pressed, and the must ferments in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The fermentation of CX Cartoixà Ancestral continues in the bottle for ten months on fine lees.

Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective—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 found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. On their part, it’s not just a matter of saving heritage, no: it’s a matter of taste and nature. Natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravelly, poor and poorly irrigated lands, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture 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, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet (among others) are also grown here. Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-varietal 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 cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

AA Anonimo Ancestral Sparkling Rosé 2019

Partida Creus
Anonimo Ancestral is a sparkling rosé with a creamy texture and fine bubbles, offering a magnificent mineral sensation on the palate, superb texture, and remarkable freshness. It should be served at a very low temperature (8-10°C) in a Bordeaux or tulip glass. The notes evoke undergrowth, grass, and yeast alongside red fruit. Obtained using the bottle refermentation method and aged for twelve months on fine lees, it is not filtered or sulfite-added. It is the result of a blend of several traditional Catalan grape varieties that differ depending on the color: for example, Xarel lo, Macabeu, Parellada, Moscatel, and Ull de Llebre. The blend and its proportions are subject to variation depending on the vintage. It pairs well with Mediterranean dishes, particularly those containing garlic, for example, snails Burgundy style, a Romesco sauce, cod aioli, etc. Anonimo Ancestral is a friend of all grilled dishes, including fish and seafood (octopus, squid, etc.).

Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of wine and history – we are talking here 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-versed—first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug tickled them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they found a number of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties—and their wines—from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of saving their heritage, no: it's 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 produce their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture 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, ceciat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: it is a true conservatory of the native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. There is also Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast of growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single varietals are common among them, alongside very rich 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 indicate the cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

BB "Las Hoces" Red 2019

Partida Creus
Partida Creus is the creation of two Piedmontese natives from the Langhe (where wine is well-known), Antonella Gerosa and Massimo Marchiori, who 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 found a wealth of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived 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. This is why their estate is as important from a winemaking point of view as from a historical point of view - we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia.

Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic, entirely manual and natural viticulture 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 but always straight and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits exclamations of joy.

This 100% Bobal is a racy and finely wild red from the Las Hoces plot, built on a grape variety common in Spain but whose expression here is very original. Dark cherry red color; on the nose, candy, sweet flowers, fresh fruits, violet, thyme. On the palate, a lot of distinction: a straight acidity and morello cherry, ripe plum, black pepper, a small saline touch on the finish. Serve well chilled.

La Barbacana Red 2019,

La Senda
La Bodega La Senda is the creation of Diego Losada, a native of Bierzo, a region northwest of the province of León, bordered to the north by Asturias and to the west by Galicia. Pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela via the Camino Francés or the Camino de Invierno can admire its magnificent landscapes, where ancient vineyards cover the hilltops. Viticulture dates back to Roman times, but the region was so traumatized by the phylloxera crisis that vines were not replanted until the mid-20th century, without massive uprooting, giving these vines an average age of forty to seventy years. Born in Ponferrada, in the northern Bierzo, Diego was never one for compromise. Resolutely radical, with a love of freedom and rigor, he first applied this disposition to music in the heavy metal band he formed with his high school friends. It was to wine, later, that he would devote this same passion, studying organic chemistry at university and learning the scientific aspects of viticulture. But the scientific rigidity and conventional methods, discovered on some of the estates where he worked, did not satisfy him. Attracted by a viticulture closer to the land, Diego recovered a few plots to showcase, as naturally as possible, the terroir of Bierzo. In 2012, he created the La Senda estate on the outskirts of his hometown, whose name means "the path." His wines will be like him: honest, frank, natural and expressive. Without the appellation of origin, they are the pure reflection of their soils and climate, of the personality and energy of their creator. La Barbacana is named after the plot that produced the grapes, a vineyard more than a century old planted on schist, ferrous and quartz soils at an altitude of 650 meters. The grape varieties are mainly Garnacha Tintorera (90%), with ten percent Mencia. The harvest is macerated in chestnut barrels and pressed before the end of fermentation, after which the must rests for eleven months in 650-liter chestnut barrels. Pure, deep, complex, this wine has a beautiful acidity and an equally beautiful length. It is a fruity and juicy red that will accompany the most rustic specialties of the Spanish terroir.
Natural wine without added sulfites.

Alberto López Calvo - Vino Tinto (Red) 2010

Bodegas Coruña del Conde
Alberto López Calvo, the estate's historic Bordeaux-style vintages are made from Tempranillo (75%), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Merlot (5%). These are beautiful wines with an intense garnet red color, elegant, complex, deep, and silky, with well-integrated tannins.

Natural wine with no added sulfites.

Rivo Gin 2017, Magi

Rivo
The bottle and label are sublime, as is the content (43% alcohol): on the nose, a great freshness welcomes you with notes of pine sap, citrus, and white honey. On the palate, lemon balm and juniper assert themselves, giving way to a lemony note—coriander seed—followed by a bouquet of wild plants. An elegant, tangy gin, best drunk very, very cold, whether you choose to add it to a cocktail (see our martini) or enjoy it on its own.
Our recipe: Rivo martini
The right product pairing: Organic Gravlax salmon from Ireland

The Hacquet Sisters and Wine — A Natural Epic

By Hélène Merceron, 2017. 179 pages. Photographs by Jean-Yves Bardin.

This finely crafted story tells the story of the Hacquet sisters, Anne and Françoise, two pioneers of natural wine who were influential in viticulture on the banks of the Loire and elsewhere. These phenomena, as the author describes them, arrived at a very young age in Beaulieu-sur-Layon in 1935. For fifty years, they assisted their brother Joseph in defending natural viticulture without additives and without compromise, which was far from common at the time. The book is constructed as a mosaic portrait of the two sisters based on interviews conducted by Jean-Yves Bardin, who filmed and recorded them in 2013—when they were eighty-five and eighty-seven years old—and then in 2016. The author met the two sisters through Sébastien Dervieux, alias Babass, and his partner Agnès, to whom this book also pays tribute. A collection of anecdotes, a moving biography, an emotional work that is a great read. Structured in three parts and forty chapters, the book is accompanied by a photo notebook and a chronology.

Cabernat Red 2019,

Domaine Capmartin

Cabernat is a red wine with no additives or added sulfur, made from Cabernet Sauvignon grown on east-facing plots on clay-gravel soils. The grape variety has the particularity, for this cuvée, of being harvested slightly overripe. The average age of the vines is fifteen years. The planting of cover crops allows for soil decompaction and provides nutritional support, alternating with natural grass cover. The harvest is destemmed and macerated carbonically with pressing in the first third of fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation ends in the liquid phase. Aging is six months on lees in stainless steel vats. Drink this first natural cuvée from Simon Capmartin within the year: it may surprise you upon opening with the presence of carbon dioxide and appear quite closed. The winemaker strongly recommends careful decanting, which will allow beautiful notes of ripe fruit to emerge that are "quite stunning" (we quote).

To find out more

Guy Capmartin settled in 1985 in the former convent of Maumusson-Laguian, in the Gers, to exploit the magnificent surrounding soils, from which he would soon produce highly acclaimed wines in the Madiran and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh appellations. In 1987, Tradition, his first cuvée, was born. In the 2000s, he decided to work exclusively in organic and biodynamic agriculture, a decision reinforced and entrenched by his son Simon, who took over. The wines were noted and received numerous awards. Certification was obtained in 2013, the Demeter label is in progress. Taking advantage of his most specific plots of the estate, Simon also undertakes to produce natural cuvées, without input and according to the principle of minimal interventionism. Labeled Vin de France or Côtes-de-Gascogne, these are the cuvées that we offer you at Culinaries.
The estate's grape varieties are organized around Tannat, the king of Madiran, surrounded by a palette as rich and diverse as the estate's soils: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, a little Syrah and Grenache Noir, plus a few old red vines currently being identified. A plot of Tannat, located on a very fine and very supple clay-marl soil with gravel, is pre-phylloxera. For the white, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu, as well as, for the Côtes-de-Gascogne, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Viognier.
The main objective of the Capmartin estate is to make frank, fruity, authentic and honest wines, perfectly reflecting their terroir, which explains the parcel-based nature of the wines under the appellation: one parcel corresponds to one vintage, and vice versa. This also explains the number and variety of vintages.

Farmhouse Cider 2017,

Florian Bourrienne

Florian Bourrienne makes ciders for aging, intended to evolve over the years, and this sets him apart from most other producers. His orchard is located in the heart of Calvados, in the Pays d'Auge, but outside the AOC (Protected Designation of Origin) in order to preserve the freedom and uniqueness of his ciders. We can, without hesitation, call it natural cider, because the cider maker goes beyond organic to respect the traditional production method, which is delicate, patient, and requires a tremendous amount of work. From his fifteen-hectare orchard planted with tall stems, he produces ciders for aging, excellent to drink in their youth but sumptuous after several years. The blend is carefully measured according to the characteristics of each vintage. The fruit production is entirely organic and the fermentation processes—there are two for traditional cider—are slow and patient, so that the cider is made the right way, using natural yeasts. These are preserved in the cider thanks to a light filtration that respects all the living elements capable of polishing the taste and aromas, but also facilitates the formation of foam, which must be just right: neither too strong nor too weak. It's difficult to manage, but the result is well worth it. These are mastered ciders, eminently delicious, marked by an extraordinary sweetness and roundness of apple. Over time, they acquire notes of acidity and astringency that gracefully reinforce their beautiful aromatic palette. These are ciders of taste and pleasure, as delicious at the table as they are as an aperitif.

Obviously more evolved than the 2018, this 2017 vintage has a more sustained acidity in an overall still very marked by sweetness. Round, full-bodied, slightly astringent, it is approaching adulthood and you can drink it now or keep it for three to five years. The apple flavor is enhanced with a remarkable freshness. A sunny cider that puts you in a good mood.