Organic + Biodynamic Wine

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.

Winemaker Description

The vineyard has been farmed organically for several years and is officially AB certified since 2017. Conversion to biodynamics in 2020. Depending on the soil, cover crops are planted between the vines in some parcels.

Down each row, grass is kept mowed, and hoeing is done to remove weeds between each vine. Debudding in Spring. A green harvest is carried out every year. Grapes are 100% hand-harvested and rigorously sorted. Grapes are carried to the cellar in a bin fitted with a vibrating system; that and a vibrating table and the care of 5 to 6 persons ensure grapes are sorted before being destemmed.

Fermentation in stainless steel tanks, with natural yeasts starts after a cold maceration. Tank time lasts 20 to 25 days depending on the vintage. This wine is aged in ‘tronc conique’ oak vats for 18 months. No fining, filtering done on cellulose plates.

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.

Winemaker Description 

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 chteau 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 

Yohan Castaing of The Wine Advocate writes 91+ Points | 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.

Nicolas Greinache of Vinous 90 Points | 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. 

Joe Czerwinski of The Wine Advocate 89-91 Points | Consisting of 70% Grenache and 10% each Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah, Brusset's 2022 Gigondas Tradition Les Grand Montmirail boasts enchanting aromas of strawberries and cherries wreathed in subtle garrigue notes. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, ripe and silky but firm, with ample concentration and a softly tannic finish. 

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 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. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 Points | While not yet bottled, the 2020 Gigondas is stunning, and readers shouldn't miss a chance to buy bottles. Ripe red berries, sandalwood, and garrigue all emerge from this lush, soft, seductive Gigondas, which has velvety tannins and a great finish. 

Josh Raynolds of Vinous 94-95 Points | Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip.

Winemaker Description

Full-bodied, fruity, fine and well-balanced. Aromas of red fruits – raspberries and black cherries – with notes of black pepper, lead to more complex scents of licorice and herbs de Provence. Tannins are ripe, the wine fills the mouth with warm, generous flavors yet with an underlying structure. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 93 Points | The 2023 Morgon (Non-Sulphité) has a fresh and vibrant nose, a little more brightness than the SO2 bottling. This conveys a sense of coiled-up energy. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity and that same crunchy red fruit as the regular cuvée, but with a tad more flesh toward the finish. Lapierre told me that the brightness tends to disappear within six weeks, but nevertheless, this remains a magnificent Morgon. 

Winemaker Description 

From the iconic Lapierre estate, this is their rare tête-de-cuvée, the 'n' in the name referring to 'no sulfur' -- the oldest vines in their Morgon holdings produce this wine, vinified carbonically, fully sans soufre. 

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.