Wines (24 View)

#33 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

93 points Wine Spectator
Alluring for its sleek polish and precision, this sparkler has tiers of Asian pear, strawberry, fresh almond and ginger flavors that unfurl slowly. Drink now

#70 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2021.

90 pts Wine Spectator
A festive sparkler, vibrant and generous, with layered strawberry, fresh ginger and spice flavors that build toward the snappy finish.

Organic

Located in the appellation of Juran??on in south-west France, Domaine Coustarret's 5 hectares of vineyards have been passed down for seven generations. Today, Sebastien Coustarret tends the vines and makes the wine. The vines sit on the slopes of the foothills of the Pyrenees at an altitude of 400 meters, facing south on soils of limestone and clay with large pebbles. The domaine practices organic farming and is in conversion to certification.

The Cuve?? Renaissacne Juran??on Sec is made from 80% Petit Manseng, 10% Courbu and 10% Camaralet from vines that average 20 years of age. The grapes are fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless steel tanks. Vibrant flavors of tropical fruits are buoyed by a fresh, tangy acidity.

A direct and considerable freshness - the density and richness of the fruit mingle with the superb acid vitality giving a wine with a frisson and a magnificent persistency. Stunningly balanced, this is an extremely appetent wine! Ideal as an aperitif.

Organic / Biodynamic

The pale yellow robe is very clear. The nose shows a nice expression of freshness, citrus and white flowers. The mouth is fresh with a nice tonic acidity and minimality. 100% Chenin Blanc. Vineyard planted in 1984. Direct pressing. Fermentation and maturing in stainless steel temperature-regulated tanks. Tartaric stabilisation in cold room.

Organic / Biodynamic

Made from the noble Chenin Blanc grape variety, this cuvée presents all the characteristics of ripe fruit with aromas of apricots, peaches and quince. This cuvée is fermented in barrel bringing delicate nutty aromas. The palate is round and fresh, which allows for gourmet pairings.100% Chenin Blanc. Vineyard planted in 1984.Direct pressing. Fermentation in thermoregulated stainless steel vats. Natural yeast fermentation. Aging in French oak barrels (new and used) for one year. Tartaric stabilization in cold room.

The first thing you will notice about this wine is the playful and yet confusing label, which does not get easier to decipher after a few glasses. Well, the winery is stronger in winemaking than marketing for this is a delicious daily drinker. A subtle floral bouquet (violets) graces the senses while the body of the wine is brimming with ripe blackberries and a pepper note. Although this wine is generous on the palate it is also soft texturally and very easy to drink. The tannins are subtle, no oak barrels used here, and the alcohol is mild at 12.5% abv. This extremely pleasurable red is less power and more finesse which is not easy to achieve in the Languedoc-Roussillon.

80% Grenache and 20% Syrah fermented in temperature controlled tanks with a cuvaison up to one month. Aged for 4 months in tank.

"Le Loup dans la Bergerie" loosely translates as "The wolf in the hen house".

Organic / Biodynamic / No Added Sulfites

Dark ruby color with violet reflections. Bouquet of small red fruits and spring flowers (violet), with peppery notes. The mouth combines freshness with energy in a balanced presentation in which the greedy aromatics, the suppleness and the crispness of the structure participate. This is a very impressive expression of Mondeuse. 12% abv

Organic / Biodynamic

1/3 aged in neutral french oak.
This Chardonnay is perfectly balanced between bright fruit and a kiss of oak. Very lovely.

90 points Wine Advocate
Primary aromas of candied raspberries, cherries, lilacs, peonies and sweet spices introduce the 2022 Chiroubles Aux Craz, a medium-bodied wine, revealing further notes of eucalyptus, candied peel and slate on the palate. While the initial attack is more daring, the wine gracefully tapers off on the back palate, guided by an influence of fine-grained tannins. This is a suave wine that leaves you wanting more.

Organic / Natural

This is an incredible find in Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. This has everything you could want in a classically styled Chinon but with a “new-age” touch of freshness (no oak used, only concrete). The bouquet wafts out of the glass displaying notes of wildflowers, blackberries and bell peppers. This medium-bodied Cabernet Franc has the classic spice and pyrazine (green notes) Chinon is known for but not in a stemmy or unripe fruit way. It is subtle and adds a desired complexity. This is bright and joyful and should not be missed by Loire Valley wine enthusiasts. Lower its temperature for maximum enjoyment! Organic / Natural. 12% abv.

At the crossroads of traditional Chinon and modern, youthful winemaking you will find Domaine de la Mariniere. The depth and purity of the fruit they achieve ia terrific.

The Domaine de la Mariniere, situated in Panzoult on the eastern edge of Chinon, has been farmed by the Desbourdes family since 1965. The land here was initially used as a true, polyculture farm, raising animals and growing cereal grains in addition to grapes. Renaud Desbourdes returned to help his father in the 1980s, turning the focus to grape growing and winemaking and expanding the vineyard plantings, and eventually took full control of the domaine in 1999 when his father retired. Today, Renaud’s son, Boris, has joined his father full-time and is helping to take this traditional family domaine into the next generation.

Boris initially became passionate about organic farming after working with Vincent Laval in Champagne, and upon his return, he immediately transitioned his family’s vineyards to organics (certified in 2018). The 15 hectares of vines average 30 years old (with some old parcels having been planted in the ‘50s and ‘60s) and are planted on a mix of gravelly sand and limestone soils on the hillsides. In addition to the increased focus on farming, Boris has introduced hand-harvesting and the use of native yeast for fermentations. The result of all of this work is a set of wines that are at the forefront of a modern approach to classic Chinon, combining the best of old traditions with youthful energy.

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural / No Added Sulfites

Alice Bouvot and Charle's Dagand are disciples of the Pope of Arbois, Jacques Puffeney, and craft wines with similar purity and distinct sense of place. Sylvaner with 2 month maceration, spontaneous fermentation in tanks with indigenous yeast.

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

The bubbles are gentle, but present in the glass. Lemon danish, dry cream soda, and saline dominate the palate, finishing crisp and minerally. A fresh, clean, zippy and very friendly Pet Nat. Rolle and Ugni Blanc.

93 points Wine Advocate
The 2023 Bandol Rosé from Domaine Terrebrune exhales aromas of spices, grapefruit, pomegranate, red berries and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, tense and crystalline palate with a long, delicate and mouthwatering finish. This is a perfumed, refined Bandol rosé.

100% Cabernet Franc. Plush and pleasant, with aromas of red fruit and undergrowth on the nose. Supple, round, and delicate on the palate, with soft tannins and nice balance.

Organic / Natural

Organically farmed Syrah from the lieu-dit "Les Picheres", less than 2km from the vines of Domaine Alain Graillot in Crozes Hermitage. Vinified with thirty percent whole cluster, semi carbonic maceration, and aged in old neutral barrels from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.


The bouquet is enchanting, a dazzling display of white flowers, bramble fruit, and a slight note of baking spice. The fruit is lush and plush and feels incredible on the palate (semi-carbonic maceration at play). The finish is silky smooth showing great balance and drinkability. Equis is a joyful, playful wine that doesn't take itself too seriously and yet presents enough layers to keep the most classic plates engaged. This is a crowd pleaser for sure!

Maxime Graillot, the son of iconic Crozes-Hermitage producer Alain Grailliot.
100% Syrah
40+ year old vines
From the lieu-dit “Les Picheres”, less than 2km from the vines of Domaine Alain Graillot
Rocky gravel terroir
30% whole cluster
Indigenous yeast
Aged in older barrels

This deep and rich Hermitage, from a family run operation, displays smoked cherry and berry plus dark roasted coffee, iron and red meat on the nose.? On the palate the wine is exceptionally chewy, with cassis, orange rind, and chocolate notes backed by bacon, iron and smoke tones. Excellent acidity and density make this is well-structured Hermitage worthy of additional aging to fully reveal itself.? Decant for at least an hour to serve now. - PJ

Aromas of blackberries, herbs, and leather plume from your glass. On the palate, enjoy rich flavors of blackberry, black cherry, mouthcoating tannins and a long, earthy finish.

92-94 points Burghound
This is the first wine to exhibit any appreciable reduction and it's enough to overshadow the underlying fruit at present. More interesting are the intense and super-sleek broad-shouldered flavors that exhibit excellent precision on the powerful tautly muscular and strikingly long finale. This is very impressive but also a wine that is very much constituted for the long haul. Patience advised. (Drink starting 2035)

93-95 points Burghound
Exuberantly fresh black fruit aromas are liberally laced with notes of earth, clove, anise and wood. The succulent yet muscular and powerful big-bodied flavors possess excellent mid-palate density while exhibiting seriously good length on the mouth coating and strikingly long finish. Note that this is very much built-to-age and a wine that may well require 20 years to reach its apogee. Excellent!