Organic + Biodynamic Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Charles Curtis, MW of Decanter writes 94 Points | This emblematic premier cru is a lovely introduction to Domaine Leflaive, with hints of passionfruit, pomelo, coconut milk, spice and smoke. The texture is lush with extract, but there is enough acidity to bring everything into balance. Although this 2022 doesn’t show the same intensity or concentration of the other premier cru wines, the combination of ripe fruit and smoky reductive notes make it a tempting wine for mid-term cellaring.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 92-94 Points | There is just enough reduction to push the fruit to the background though a whiff of floral character can be discerned. On the palate there is both more volume and concentration to the beautifully textured middleweight flavors that are also appealingly vibrant and particularly so on the complex balanced and impressively long finale. This is notably better than it usually is and a wine that should amply repay a decade or so of keeping. 

Neal Martin of Vinous 91 Points | The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet Clavaillon 1er Cru is much more backward and rocky on the nose; sea spray and crustacea come through with aeration. The palate is fresh and malic with plenty of energy. It is a little spicy towards the finish with a persistent peppery aftertaste. The palate was more expressive on the day that I tasted it though it seemed just a couple of paces behind Leflaive's other Premier Crus. Cellar for two or three years.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Alain Meadows of Burghound writes 95 Points |  Here too the beautifully layered nose is decidedly cool with its more citrus-suffused aromas of green apple, wet stone and crushed fennel. The more refined, if slightly less concentrated, medium weight flavors flash an almost pungent minerality on the beautifully textured, bone-dry and sneaky long finale. This chiseled effort will need at least a few years of cellaring first as it's quite tightly wound today.  - Burghound 95 ♥️

Producer Description 

Light, transparent red color. Nose is lovely, spicy, full of red berries, with notes of raspberries, strawberries, garrigue and nutmeg. Mouthfeel is lovely, light, elegant, with smooth powder-like tannins, nice acidity and notes of raspberries, strawberries, garrigue and nutmeg, with a long, spicy finish.

Producer Description 

This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points | Attractive crunchy character with spiced pears, lemon pith, white tea, lemongrass and orange peel. It is full-bodied with creamy texture, vivid acidity and juicy crunchiness. It is both rich and fresh with a polished, mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. (v.2021).

Wine & Spirits 92 Points | Zesty reduction gives the meatier aspects of this wine a run for their money. This is generous, dynamic and cool, needing some bottle age to shed the reductive scallion notes and reveal more of its underlying complexities.(v.2021).

Winemaker Description 

An exciting wine! Organically farmed, raised in amphora, 100% Blaufrankisch. Straka is a small family winery embracing a philosophy of pure and natural winemaking at their 84 year old family estate located in the Eisenberg district of Burgenland. 

The Eisenberg is a unique geological area where the foothills of the Alps meet the Pannonian lowlands and is comprised of metamorphic, magmatic rock and cristal schist. One of only 3 places in the world with this soil composition. The deep rooted vines naturally show a distinct mineral character and a compelling purity of fruit. 

Expert Reviews - 2021 Vintage

James Suckling 95 Points | The currants, cedar and violets are very bright on the nose, with sandalwood undertones and pencil shavings. This is medium-bodied, beautiful and firm, with finesse and real Lafite character for their second wine. Racy at the end. Drinkable now but even better in three or four years.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | Cherries and ripe black-currants give this second-label wine a generous, open character. It is succulent with rich tannins and pure black-currant acidity. This is sure to age well. Drink from 2028.

Decanter 93 Points | Ripe, dark perfumed blackcurrant and black cherries on the nose. Fragrant but also herbal, liquorice, clove, tobacco and toast. Supple and juicy on the palate, a lovely sense of life and energy to this straight away. Gorgeous texture, full and expansive in the mouth with gently plush and crushed velveted tannins. Feels like a serious wine with a great fresh backbone of lively acidity, ripe fruit and structured tannins. I love the high acidity and sense of explosion you get here. Raspberry, red cherry and blackcurrant - so red and black fruits with tinges and hints of liquorice, cola and mint around the edges. Really nuanced but very approachable. Fun with clarity and precision. Such a clear palate. A lively baby brother.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is gorgeous. Supple, dynamic and lively, the 2021 pulses with energy. It's a wine of vibrancy. Dark cherry fruit, plum, grilled herbs and graphite all build effortlessly in the glass. There's a bit of graininess in the tannin, yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. There's a ton to like, that's for sure.

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2021 Carruades de Lafite is mostly composed of the younger replacement vines dotted throughout Lafite's vineyards on the plateau, which are harvested separately. Offering up aromas of red berries, cassis, cedar box and orange rind, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and layered, with good concentration and a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, part of which was matured in wooden vats rather than barriques.

Producer Description 

Very beautiful 13 hectare estate recently discovered which produces gourmet wines, certified AB and vinified without additives and with little sulfur (below 35 mg/l). All the grape varieties are represented on varied terroirs. Prices remain reasonable. You have to know how to take advantage of it in this region.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93-94 Points | This is very balanced and round with lovely softness. Plenty of fruity. Medium body. Lots of salinity and savoriness. Long and delicious. Friendly already. 44% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

The Wine Advocate 88-90 Points | With a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it offers up eager-to-please notes of fresh Bing cherries, redcurrants and black raspberries, plus hints of dried Provence herbs, dusty soil, wild mushrooms and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has a good concentration of red and black fruits with a chewy texture and just enough freshness, finishing earthy.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Reserved in style, this moves steadily and methodically along, with a textbook core of cassis and bitter cherry notes laced with light anise, wet stone and iron. Shows good mouthwatering cut on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Winemaker Description 

Cinsault- and Carignan-based, this is the lightest and juiciest of Didier’s three rouge cuvées, with a velvety-soft mouthfeel. The soil in Faugères is all schist, favoring silky tannins.

50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Cinsault

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | Fresh berry fruits, currants, really pleasant and enjoyable with many foods.

Winemaker Description 

Located one-hundred kilometers south of Porto in northern Portugal, Bairrada was once relegated to supplying grapes for Port wine when demand was high in England. The region is now in the midst of establishing its own wine making identity and young producers like Luis Patrao are using indigenous varieties in that pursuit.

Baga is the main red grape of the region and displays a firm and assertive character. In Vadio (slang for idler, dreamer), the vineyards are farmed organically and the fermentation derived from naturally occurring yeasts. This creates an atmosphere conducive for the variety to fully display its sinewy red fruits, cedary side notes and high-energy acid lift. A wholesaler's need to make room for the next vintage led to a fortuitous purchase and the following deal for you! 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Jeb Dunnuck 95 | From two blocks next to the winery, with three different clones planted in 1995, the ripe red-hued 2021 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais is lush with notes of wild raspberry, wild herbs, and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, it is approachable up front but has great underlying structure. It’s drinking well now but has lots of life ahead over the next 8-10 years if stored properly.

Decanter 94 Points | This Pinot plot planted in 1995 to all Dijon clones delivers a wine that is fresh and delicate. Aromas of fresh crushed raspberry, lavender and wet slate lean into a palate that balances savoury fresh and dried herbs of fennel and thyme with tomato leaf notes and cedar plank. There are notes of mineral-driven umami and pine bough, all undergirded by blue fruit character throughout. The wine finishes fresh and bright.

James Suckling 94 | A fresh and pretty pinot with fresh raspberries, orange zest, pomegranates, rose petals and nutmeg on the nose. It’s medium-bodied, with sleek, fine tannins and crunchy acidity. Lots of energy on a vibrant finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now or hold.

Decanter 94 Points | This Pinot plot planted in 1995 to all Dijon clones delivers a wine that is fresh and delicate. Aromas of fresh crushed raspberry, lavender and wet slate lean into a palate that balances savoury fresh and dried herbs of fennel and thyme with tomato leaf notes and cedar plank. There are notes of mineral-driven umami and pine bough, all undergirded by blue fruit character throughout. The wine finishes fresh and bright.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Dynamic yet elegantly layered, with a beam of fresh acidity that drives vibrant cranberry and cherry flavors. Reveals crushed stone and dusky spice accents, finishing with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Ned Goodwin MW writes:  Benchmark Valpo. Others should take note. A thirst-slaking rail of salty phenolics, doused in tangerines and sour cherries, with a touch of garden and alpine herbs. Brisk acidity carries length, finishing with a kick of quinine. Delicious. From organically grown grapes. Sustainable. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Alison Napjus writes:  A bright, balanced red, with light tannins and ripe cherry and cranberry fruit accented by blood orange peel, incense and rooibos tea notes. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description 

A young and uninhibited wine which is the lifeblood of the land from which it originates. A magnificent table companion suitable for serving with all kinds of dishes. After many years of sustainable agriculture the Speri family obtained organic certification in 2015. All Speri wines are now organic.

Ruby red in color with purplish highlights and an intense, vinous bouquet, with hints of violets and cherries. A medium-bodied, fruity wine, to be enjoyed young. An ideal accompaniment to hors d’oeuvres, soups, pasta and typical Mediterranean dishes.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer: For centuries, Sicily has been a crossroad of cultures, languages, and religions. With a multitude of cultural exchange, many things came from distant places, grape varieties included. The Syrah grape had its origins in Persia and Mesopotamia and migrated across Europe finding its way to Sicily. The hot sunny climate is a perfect home for this intrepid grape variety and is conducive to natural organic farming.

The 2021 Tenuta Rapitala Nadir Syrah is rich and well endowed with layers of black fruits and earthy spice. Full bodied and robustly structured with savory complexity and a chewy texture. Abundant and robust in the mouth, with supple tannins providing good grip on the finish, this is a perfect wine for foods of substance, such as pizza, pasta, grilled or roasted meats and hearty vegetable dishes.

James Suckling (94 Points) writes:  A juicy and fresh syrah with blackberry, spice, chocolate and dried meat aromas and flavors. Full and layered with plenty of fruit and a fresh finish. Shows excellent focus and polish. From organically grown grapes. Can age nicely. Drink or hold.  

Winery Description 

Intense ruby-red color with damask-violet tints. Generous bouquet with touches of ripe fruit and the typical spices of this grape variety, with attractive hints of vanilla. The flavor is full and delicate, with soft and elegant tannins. A balanced marriage between the depth of this product and the uniqueness of this exceptional terroir.

Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau is a family run certified organic estate located in the Mâconnais region of Burgundy. Frantz and his wife, Caroline Gon, is one of the most talented winemaking teams in all of Burgundy, farming organically and crafting minimal intervention, terroir driven wines of distinction. All the work in the vineyard is done by hand. Caroline got her winemaking savvy working for Dominique Lafon at Héritiers du Comte Lafon, who had a great influence on her ability to express the unique character of the vineyards through her wines. 

Clos Saint Pancras is a two hectare plot located near Montagne de Clessé, Viré and the Saône River. Rich and fleshy textured, the 2023 Mâcon-Villages has a lovely bouquet of white peaches, orchard fruits, citrus blossoms, and wild flowers with subtle suggestions of marzipan and hazelnut. Creamy and complex in the glass, with sublime elegance and sophistication, this is a perfect wine for adventurous food pairings and casual sipping. Makes an excellent pairing to seafood, poultry and classic French cream sauces.
Bart Hopkins

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Vinous 97 Points | The 2018 Canon La Gaffelière is bright, punchy and full of character, just as it was from barrel. Sage, blood orange, mocha and spice add pretty aromatic top notes to a core of inky red/purplish berry fruit. All the elements are so well balanced in this super-expressive Saint-Émilion. Bright floral and savory Franc notes punctuate the salivating finish, mineral-drenched finish. The 2018 needs a lot of air to open, but when it does, it is dynamite.

Wine Spectator 96 Points | This has a lovely core of mulled cassis, damson plum and raspberry reduction notes, framed with an applewood note that integrates nicely while red tea, savory and chalky mineral notes develop through the finish. Restrained style, precise and very long. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2024 through 2038. 5,833 cases made.

James Suckling 96 Points | Fantastic depth and richness to the nose with plums, mushrooms, bark and some mahogany. Full-bodied, tight and focused with very fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Lovely polish, balance and clarity. Drink after 2025.

Wine Advocate 95 Points | Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Canon la Gaffeliere out of the gate delivers a seductive nose of plum preserves, kirsch and Black Forest cake with nuances of lilacs, underbrush, Indian spices and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is filled with black fruit preserves and loads of spicy accents, supported by chewy tannins and well-balanced freshness, finishing long and savory.

Wine Enthusiast 94-96 Points Barrel Sample | This already shows sophistication in a stream of black currant fruit set alongside the firm tannins that are still developing. Its structure and juicy berry fruits give richness and freshness at the end while also promising aging.

Decanter 95 Points | This has the clear edge over La Mondotte for me because it combines the polish and glamour of a St-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé with the salt taffy tang of limestone. Still a silky texture but a more attractive slate edge coming in on the finish to temper the sweet fruit and slow things down. A highly impressive wine. The harvest ran from 19 September to 4 October, with a yield of 35hl/ha. 50% new oak. Certified organic.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | This has the clear edge over La Mondotte for me because it combines the polish and glamour of a St-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé with the salt taffy tang of limestone. Still a silky texture but a more attractive slate edge coming in on the finish to temper the sweet fruit and slow things down. A highly impressive wine. The harvest ran from 19 September to 4 October, with a yield of 35hl/ha. 50% new oak. Certified organic.

Expert Reviews 

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Well-spiced and mouthwatering, this vivid Champagne offers a finely detailed bead and expressive flavors of black raspberry, dried apricot, orange blossom, fleur de sel and crystallized honey. Clean-cut and minerally on the finish."

Vinous 92 Points | The NV Brut Ultradition is the same base wine as the Extra Brut Ultradition. Here the higher dosage seems to give the wine greater fleshiness and immediacy, while changing the wine's shape. Some of the mid-palate creaminess seems to have been achieved at the expense of a bit of persistence. Disgorged: November 2016. Dosage is 6-8 grams per liter.

John Gilman 92+ Points | The current release of Laherte Frres non-vintage Ultradition Brut is composed from an atypical and highly attractive cpages of sixty percent pinot meunier, thirty percent chardonnay and ten percent pinot noir and was finished with a dosage of six to eight grams per liter. This is from the base year of 2012 and the wine is outstanding, offering up a very refined, meunier dominated constellation of white peach, loads of spring flowers, chalky soil tones, gentle smokiness and a dollop of brioche in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied and extremely elegant, with a fine core, superb soil signature, refined mousse and a very long, complex and dancing finish. This is a beautiful bottle of non-vintage Brut! 2017-2035."

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 94 Points | A very expressive Gigondas with great Mediterranean herb character plus black olives. Powerful and structured, but with brightness and salty minerality lifting the bold palate. Made from grapes bought from three vineyards. A cuvee dominated by grenache, syrah and mourvedre with cinsault and clairette rose. 65% matured in concentrate tanks and 35% in oak barriques. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Producer Description 

The vineyard is cultivated with the greatest respect for nature and people. The grapes come from terroirs located on the southern slope of the Dentelles de Montmirail.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. Aromas of a mix of black fruits along with red fruits join savory flavors of garrigue and black olives in the mouth. Supple tannins blend into a long finish. Serve with Leg of suckling lamb with thyme flower, ratatouille, Provençal tomatoes, and lamb tagine.

Winemaker Description 

Certified biodynamic. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. From the lieux-dits “Clos de l’Etand” and “Le Grand Lopin”. 3 ha total on the Chaume hill, facing south. Plaisance owns the only red grapes on the Chaume hill. 35+ year old vines. Spilite over schist bedrock. De-stemmed. 2-3 week maceration. Indigenous yeast. Fermented and aged in concrete for 11 months.

Expert Review - Vintage 2013

Luis Gutierrez of the Wine Advocate writes 93+ Points | The 2013 Viña Bosconia Reserva even in a cooler and rainier year, like 2013, has a rounder body and still 13.5% alcohol. They also insisted that "remember that we can use 15% of wine from another vintage, and perhaps we topped this one up with wine from 2015. We want consistency year after year." This matured in barrels for five years and was bottled unfiltered but fined with egg whites. It's expressive, elegant and subtle, clean and complex, with polished tannins and very good acidity (pH 3.3 and 6.7 grams of tartaric acid per liter of wine). 70,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2021.

Winemaker Description 

Vina Bosconia comes from the 15ha El Bosque vineyard on the banks of the river Ebro at an altitude of 465m, one km away from the Haro winery. The vines here are planted on the south-facing foothills of the Sierra Cantabria. The soil is a mixture of clay and limestone, with an average vine age of 40 years. The blend is Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%) with Mazuelo (aka Carignan) and Graciano making up the balance. The wine aged in barrel for 5 years, being racked twice a year.

Viña Bosconia Reserva 2013 unveils an aromatic palette where ripe red fruits such as cherries and plums are prominent, interwoven with hints of vanilla and spices. On the palate, its elegance is manifested in a smooth and rounded texture, with fine tannins that lead to a long and lingering finish. Its complexity is gradually unveiled with each sip, displaying a delightful evolution from the initial encounter to the final reverberation on the palate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 95 Points | Wild herbs and tangy white-pepper notes on top of the fresh-toned red and black cherries, plums and hints of citrus zest, sweet red berries and minerals. Polished, dusty tannins spread evenly across the medium-bodied palate, with juicy, vivid plums and berries. Nothing showy here, but it’s beautifully balanced and understated, showing real fruit vibrancy and harmony. Drinkable now, but will hold well, too. 

Wine Advocate 94+ Points | When tasted next to the 2020, the 2019 Lanzaga comes through as a little more closed and austere, with a little less alcohol (14% vs 14.5%) and with rounder tannins. It comes from 15 to 20 hectares of their own organically farmed vineyards. It fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in 225-liter barrels and 1,500- and 2,500-liter oak foudres for 14 months. 24,527 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2021. 

Tim Atkin 92 Points | The"basic" Lanzaga red - if such a thing can be said of a wine that retails at €25 - comes from bush vine plantings of mostly Tempranillo with some Graciano and Garnacha in Lanciego. Aged in large wooden foudres, it's all about fruit and focus rather than wood. Youthful, taut and tangy with lots of perfume, stony minerality and good ageing potential.

Expert Review

Kristen Bieler writes: Light notes of cherry, licorice root and plum are ripe and plush, with a silky feel and a subtle waft of alder smoke and tobacco leaf. Dried violet, pepper and sage elements add detail on the firm, incense-kissed finish. Elegant and light on its feet. Drink now through 2027. - Wine Spectator 90

Winemaker Notes

The historic property of Chteau du Hureau - one of the only wine producing Chateaux in the Loire - is among the top producers of Saumur-Champigny. The Chateau has been in the family for generations, and today, is run by fifth generation vigneron Philippe Vatan and his daughter Agathe.

Their entry-level "Tuffe" is 100 percent Cabernet Franc fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless steel tank.

Dark, intense and sappy, with plenty of lovely fruit and floral notes, balanced by acidity and minerality from the underlying limestone soils. The quality and intrigue of the Chteau du Hureau wines continue to soar, as does their following at home and abroad."~Distributor Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre

Matt Walls writes:  Good dark colour in the glass and scents of warm blackberries. A Gigondas with good weight and smoothness on the palate. Fully ripe fruit is balanced by grippy tannins, moderate alcohol and good acidity. Destemmed, 50% aged in new oak barrels.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Decanter 92

James Suckling writes:  Plenty of fruit to this textural, focused and well-composed Gigondas. Aromas of dark cherries, baked plums, cassis and warm spices follow through to a medium body with fine, firm tannins. Velvety at the center with more intensity towards the edges and into the compact finish. Grenache, syrah, mourvedre and cinsault. Try after 2025.  - James Suckling 92 

Yohan Castaing writes:  Evoking aromas of spices, pepper, garrigue and dark wild berries, the 2022 Gigondas Tradition Les Grand Montmirail possesses a medium to full-bodied, enrobing and charming palate built around a juicy core of fruit and a delicately peony-inflicted finish. This blend of 70% Grenache Noir, 10% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah was destemmed and matured 60% in tanks and the rest in large barrels. It's a beautiful wine in the making.  Drinking 2026 to 2036.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91+

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  The 2022 Gigondas Tradition Le Grand Montmirail is made from certified organic Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Distinctive hazelnut and strawberry scents emerge, followed by hints of ripe raspberry and dried herbs. This is a medium-bodied, moderately concentrated wine that shows meticulous balance.  Drinking 2024 to 2033.  - Vinous 90  

Kristen Bieler writes:  Exuberant notes of boysenberry and red cherry licorice offer an herbal lift in this juicy, plump version. Hibiscus and lavender accents add a pretty floral edge, with incense smoke on the finish. High-toned and glossy, this is grounded by ample graphite details and fine-grained tannins for an elegant structure. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2030.  - Wine Spectator 91

Tamlyn Curran writes:  When you walk into a florist shop during peony season, it has a particular smell: bruised, dark-pink-red, petals on the verge of tears, petals in metal buckets with rusty rims, petals on wet tarmac, dark leaves that smell like sap and blood. Like this wine. And a wine that tastes like it smells, but with raspberries. Tannins that feel like thick, dark-green leaves over the edge of metal buckets with rusty rims. A long spine; an elegant imprint.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Jancis Robinson 17

Expert Notes

Stuart Pigott writes:  Nose of wild berries, smoke and earth. A rich and mellow, full-bodied example of this appellation, the healthy, moderately dry tannins wrapped in velvet. Long finish that's much brighter than the first impression suggests. A cuvee of 80% grenache and 20% syrah from two parcels close to the border with Gigondas. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Alistair Cooper MW writes:  Plenty of pure fruit on the nose – light red fruits, as well as a slight garrigue note. A compact palate, with peppery spice and fine, firm, bright tannins – moderate weight. Bright, sleek and attractive red fruit on the layered finish. Bright, engaging and relatively light.  Drinking 2025 to 2032.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Winemaker Description 

The Vacqueyras Les Aubes has substantial fruit and earthy notes mixed with notes of pepper and licorice. A great match for roasted vegetables, and gouda cheese - 

The estate was created in 1874 and since then, six generations of the Gras family have succeeded one another, each making their own contribution to its development. Benjamin has worked hand in hand with his father, Yves, since 2017. After obtaining a degree in oenology at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, his experience was enriched by periods spent in prestigious wine estates such as Domaine de Romanée-Conti and Bodega Vega-Sicilia. He maintains organic farming , converted the entire estate to biodynamic methods in 2016, and is redesigning the wine range to emphasize local terroirs. Just like his father, he favors as little intervention as possible in winemaking and respect for what nature offers.

Vacqueyras Les Aubes is a blend of Grenache (80%) and Syrah (20%) coming from plots located exclusively in places called Les Aubes and La Ponche in Vacqueyras, over 1.5 hectares. The harvest is manual with sorting in the vineyard, followed by a second on a sorting table and partial destemming. Fermentation lasts 20 to 30 days in stainless steel vats under controlled temperatures with two long daily pumping overs. Malolactic fermentation occurs in vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in 36-hectoliter Stockinger oak barrels and 8-hectoliter terracotta jars .

Producer Description

Traditional 100% organic apéritif made with grape juice and eau-de-vie de cognac from our estate. Fresh and fruity.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 92 Points | Bright ruby. Displays ripe, spice-accented cherry and dark berries, along with hints of succulent herbs and spices. Juicy and expansive in style, offering well-concentrated red and blue fruit flavors and a touch of cracked pepper. Creamy tannins sneak in late and add a gentle grip to a long, spice- and floral-driven finish. All de-stemmed fruit and raised in concrete tanks.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points |  Not yet bottled, the 2020 Gigondas offers more dark fruits as well as masculine notes of ground pepper, crushed stone, and sappy garrigue. Medium to full-bodied and nicely structured, it’s another rock-solid wine from this estate. The blend is 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, destemmed, and aged in concrete tank.

Jancis Robinson 16 Points, James Lawther MW writes:  Fruit bright and lifted on the nose. Supple and round on the palate. Firm, chalky tannins. Clean and fresh on the finish with some persistence.  55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Organic.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.

Producer Description 

Intense, brilliant garnet color. On the nose, aromas of garrigue develop alongside spices and black fruits. Fleshy and dense palate, with notes of jam, ripe fruit, and spices.

The Domain: The history of Mas des Restanques began in 1995 with the union of our two family lands. After several years in a cooperative cellar, we took the plunge, created our own cellar, and released our 1st vintage in 2007.

We began orienting the domain towards Organic agriculture in 2009 and were certified by "Ecocert" in 2012. In 2019, our son Philippe joined us on the estate to continue the tradition while bringing new perspectives to the business. As a family, we put all our efforts into vine cultivation in order to offer consumers the best grape sources. Then, the low yields on clay soils limestone, thoughtful work of the harvest, and the development of our wines bring to our cuvées character, strength, and balance.

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | The bad boy of the spiced rum category draws on tattoo culture (look for the cute hula-girl tattoo label) and high alcohol content (north of 80 proof). Despite the sweet, almost root beer-like caramel fragrance, the mahogany liquid is brawny and dry. Look for bitter cocoa up front, cinnamon and allspice notes. A good foil for drinks with sweeter ingredients.

Producer Description 

Bold, spiced, and tattooed with tradition, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is a tribute to the legacy of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins.

This smooth, 92-proof rum blends Caribbean spice with hints of vanilla and caramel, perfect for sipping neat or mixing up classic cocktails with a sailor's swagger.

Our recipe is based on the tradition of sailors improving the flavor of their on-board rum rations. (The first nation to abolish issuing sailors daily rum was the U.S., which did so in 1862. New Zealand upheld the practice until 1990). Generally there were two ways to take the edge off rum. One was to age the liquid in wooden casks, which sailors rarely bothered with. The other way was to blend in spices. This is what most sailors did and it's what we do.

Sailor Jerry was an exacting craftsman. His tattoos were precise, bold and flawless. Even the riggings on his clipper ship tattoos were nautically accurate. We craft our rum to a similar standard, going out of our way to find the best Caribbean rums to make Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. The ones that make the cut are blended together to create the ideal base for our unmatched recipe of natural spices.

Our higher proof spirit is historically accurate. In fact, the term “proof” comes from the method whereby sailors could assure their rum rations weren't being watered down. The ship's captain would ladle out a sample from the day's rum barrel in front of the men. He'd douse it with gunpowder, then give it a spark — if the rum was full strength, the powder ignited, giving sailors “proof” of the integrity of their rum.

Staying true to the old-school tradition of spicing high proof rum results in a uniquely bold, smooth and balanced liquid – perfect in your favorite cocktails.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 92 Points | This excellent Cotes-du-Rhone combines the richness of the grenache grape with wild berry and herb aromas and an excellent tension for the hot, dry vintage. Impressive depth and black fruit character in the long, zesty finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. 75% whole-cluster fermented.

Winemaker Description 

A collection of plots of vines planted on the Vacqueyras, Rasteau (Crus), Roaix and Seguret (Côtes-du-Rhône Villages) communes. It is this combination that give this cuvée the name "The Four Lands.

Harvest & Vinification:

Manually harvested with a strict selection process. The whole crop ferments for 20 days after a short maceration, with partial destemming. Aged 90% in Stockinger foudres, 10% in terracotta jars (amphora). Bottling without fining or filtration. 

Winemaker Description 

Blanca Cusiné: The traditional Xarel·lo variety is "connected" with two historical varieties of the quad-sparkling wines used in the world of the Khadonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine made by the traditional method of sparkling wine is aged with yeast for 80 months.

Blanca Cusiné: The traditional Xarel·lo variety is "connected" with two historical varieties of the quad-sparkling wines used in the world of the Khadonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine made by the traditional method of sparkling wine is aged with yeast for 80 months.

It refreshes, offering a delicate friendship of the tastes of yellow plums, toast, grated ginger and orange peel.

Winemaker Description 

Made from 100% Macabeu, this rare dessert wine spent 21 years in barrel before being bottled. The slow oxidation in barrel gives this wine its characteristic amber color, as well as complex notes of fig, date, toasted hazelnut, and caramel. Best served at room temperature, try this on its own after dinner, or alongside cheese, pastry, or chocolate cake. Once opened, the wine can be enjoyed for several months. 

Jean-Hubert Verdaguer and his wife, Brigitte, helm Domaine de Rancy in the Roussillon, one of only a handful of quality wineries still producing exceptional Rivesaltes in the old Ambré style.

This unique type of fortified wine is a Vin Doux Naturel, in which a pure spirit is added during fermentation to stop conversion of sugar into alcohol. These are complex and incredibly versatile dessert wines, typically 16% to 20% alcohol with 85-100 grams of residual sugar, and acidity varying between 6% and 8%.

The grapes – 100% Macabeau – come from organically-farmed vineyards. It is the addition of neutral grape spirits that prevents them from obtaining organic certification on their Vin Doux Naturels.

They are hand-picked late in the season, pressed, fermented, and fortified in tank. Only the best wine is chosen for barrel-aging, and it remains in barrel for up to 60 years. The wines are bottled as needed, unfined and unfiltered, and the wine is best served at room temperature to fully appreciate the intense, complex aromas that develop in the glass.

Winemaker Description 

Delicious aromas of raspberry jam and spicy green grass lead to a luscious mouthful of dark red fruit, delicate soft tannins and a long spicy finish. Recommended with stews and spicy sauces.

Winemaker Description

Red in color with hints of purple. Aroma of cherries and floral notes. The delicate and fresh flavors have fruity notes, medium body and silky tannins with a long finish.

After destemming of the Carignan, the skin and juice are sent to the tanks where the must ferments during 9 days at controlled temperature. The wine is sent to stainless tanks for resting. The wine is passed to new oak barrels for 2 months.

Ideal to accompany Iberian sausages and cheeses of average cure.

Winemaker Description 

A deep red, nearly purple color, with aromatics of concentrated black fruits, cigar box and notes of barrel toast. Dark fruit, spice and rich flavors continue on the palate. Quite brooding, but pure and focused. The tannins are super integrated and soft, but with terrific balance and finish that gives it unusual length in the palate.

For us, there is no greater inspiration than nature itself. We are Joel Gott and Charles Bieler, adventure seekers and wine crafters, who look to some of the world’s most dramatic backdrops to create the multidimensional wines of the SHOW.

All the fermentations were done in concrete tanks with native yeast, minimal punch downs and 2+ weeks on the skins post fermentation.