Whether Certified Organic, Biodynamic or farmed under a sustainable scheme these environmentally low impact wines are made with care for Mother Earth
There are 163 products in this category
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Rivetto
A quite thrilling and utterly extraordinary Nebbiolo d'Alba from the brilliant Enrico Rivetto. The Nebbiolo vines grow on the Lirano hill at Sinio at an altitude 400m with exposure to the west on clay-limestone soils - on the border of Barolo. The grapes are manually harvested late September, destalked and fermented naturally in Amphora with its wild, indigenous yeasts. The wine macerates in these terracotta containers for a very long time. The wine has great energy and tension, it is extraordinarily elegant and wonderfully complex too. A neo-classical marvel of a wine. Enrico has dedicated this wine to the hill where he lives and grows. It's an absolutely extraordinary offering that regularly gets scored in the mid-to high nineties in the American journals, if that's your thing: 94/100 in Wine Enthusiast for the 2021, 96/100 WE and 96/100 in Wine Spectator for the 2019, 95/100 in WE for the 2017 etc, etc. An absolute, slept-on beauty that we are very proud to bring to the UK.
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Domaine des Trinités
After the spring frost affected 2021 (see grapes blended with Roussanne, Grenache and Syrah to produce ‘Le Duc’), Simon didn’t only lose a large percentage of fruit that year, he lost approximately 20% of the Viognier vines! Just when you thought this man's luck couldn’t get any worse! But the L’Invite 2022 displays more of the richer and classic Viognier characters than is usual from this extraordinarily high and stunning terroir of schist with large pebbles of basalt mixed in. These characters marry well with the awesome minerality this site constantly shows. An absolute stunner.
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Rivetto
The 'house' Barolo from Rivetto. The only producer who grows organically and biodynamically and is certified in the DOCG. This beautiful Serralunga is grown on soils of Serravallian origin, which are clay-limestone. Soil with sub-alkaline reaction, with presence of magnesium, calcium and iron. On east, south-east and north-east slopes at between 340-420 metres altitude from the vineyards of Serra, Manocino and San Bernardo. Selection in stages, carried out three times in the 45 days before the start of the harvest. Manually harvested as late as possible. The must sees stem and grape seeds removal, pressing and room temperature maceration for two days, then cooled. Total duration of maceration is 20-25 days. The wine then sees natural fermentation on its wild yeast at 28-30° C. Malolactic completed. The wine is then aged in large Slavonian oak barrels (30hL) for 30 months, aged in bottle for a further ten months before release. A pale, elegant example of Barolo from Serralunga. Violets, rose hips, tobacco and leather are surrounded by gorgeous red fruits and elegant tannins. Enrico works wonders in this area to produces such ethereal, beautiful wines with grace and power that shall drink well on release and develop further interest for at least twenty years from this superb 2019 vintage. Awarded 93/100 Monica Larner in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Recent vintage awards 2018 95/100 Wine Enthusiast, 92/100 James Suckling, 17/20 jancisrobinson.com 2017 93/100 JS, 95/100 WE 2016 93/100 WA, 92/100 Decanter Magazine, 93/100 JS, 17+/20 jancisrobinson.com, 95/100 WE 2015 94/100 JS, 17.5/20 jancisrobinson.com
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Domaines des Lampyres
Francois Xavier AKA 'FX'. FX worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. Dom. des Lampyres Luminescence 2022 Vin de France 11% alc Skin macération Muscat Petit Grain 70% (on terroir clay limestone) and 30% Muscat d’Alexandrie (terroir clay) . The two parcels were fermented separately with their wild, indigenous yeasts. There was 15 days skin maceration whole bunch for the Muscat a Petit Grain and 20 days whole bunch for the Muscat d’Alexandrie. The Muscat a Petit Grain was aged in cuve for nine months and the Muscat d’Alexandrie was aged for seven months in 10hl Amphora. Juices blended one month before bottling. 2g/hl sulphites added prior to bottling. One of the finest maceration wines of the Roussillon. The 2022 slightly lusher than the 2021. Absolutely awesome wine.
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Domaine des Trinités
Soil and climate: The vines are planted on the highest vineyards of the steep north facing slopes in the beautiful foothills of the Cevennes mountains in an isolated position surrounded by nothing other than herbaceous shrub and woodland. The soil is a combination of schist and basalt boulders keeping a freshness and bright acidity in these deep rooting vines. All the grapes are handpicked from the highest point in the vineyard (350M) and provide a yield of between 15 and 20 hl/ha and undergo a rigorous triage both at the vineyard and the winery. The small 15kg crates of fruit are taken straight to the winery where they are put in to tanks and left on their skins for 21 days under a nap of Carbon Dioxide at 8°C before being gently pressed. After 48 hours of cold settling the juice is racked-off the grape solids, then allowed to ferment at low temperatures (12 - 14 degrees centigrade). A carbon dioxide nap is also used throughout the entire fermentation process to avoid excess oxidation. Wild ferment, no use of enzymes or any other fining products. A delicate white blossom, tangerine skin nose gives way to a rich, textured and multi-layered mouth feel, providing lush fruit with hints of lychee and grapefruit developing in to some green olive and almond on the finish.
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Domaines des Lampyres
Francois Xavier AKA 'FX' worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. The deepest, and juiciest of FX’s white wines. This cuvee comes from an absolutely beautiful schist vineyard planted 80 years ago. Like many ancient Roussillon vineyards it is co-planted with Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir and Macabeu. Back in the day farmers would plant in such a way to hedge their bets that they would at least have some grapes at harvest time. The grapes were picked by hand then crushed, pressed and fermentation took place in cuve. It was then aged in cuve for 8 months. 2g/hl sulphites added prior to bottling.
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Rivetto
Only 24 bottles available from this small and prestigious vineyard in 2018. Briccolina is the pioneer vineyard for Rivetto's biodynamic approach, introduced in 2015. It is the only Barolo Cru granted the Demeter certification. It is a vineyard-garden, a poly-culture entirely worked by hand. Situated in Serralunga d’Alba at 340 meters with west/south-west exposure. The soil is clay-limestone, with an abundant presence of marl at a depth of two meters. Soil with sub-alkaline reaction. Scaled selection, carried out three times during the 45 days before the grape harvest. Manually harvested as late as possible. Stalk and grape seeds removal/pressing and maceration for sixty days, half of which with submerged-cap and the other half with a floating cap. No controlling of temperature during the fermentation that occurs naturally on the wild yeasts of this special garden in large, open-topped wooden vats. Malolactic completed. Aged in 15-hl oak barrels for 36 months, then aged in bottle for a further 16 months before release. Sometimes the bottles are held back a further five years. "This Barolo opens with darker fruit notes of black cherry and warmed raspberry. Wild herbs, dried leaf and cedar notes waft from the glass as it opens. The palate is brooding with roasted wild berries, black tea and savory spices giving way to an earthy finish and fine and firm tannins. Drink 2028 - 2045". Jeff Porter in Wine Enthusiast 94/100
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Domaines des Lampyres
Francois Xavier AKA 'FX' worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. One hundred percent thirty year old vine Syrah on red clay. Eight days skin macération whole bunch. Fermentation in stainless steel and aged seven months in a single 20 hl foudre. 2g/hl sulphites added just before bottling. This is like a fine, gentle Crozes-hermitage with wild notes and tangy blueberry fruit. Very smart and stylish wine from young FX.
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Rivetto
The outstanding Barbera d'Alba DOC "Loirano Soprano" is from the upper part of Zio Nando vineyard situated at the top of the Lirano hill at Sinio at 390m altitude, enjoying a splendid position on the crag with western exposure. The soils are sandy-limestone, with the presence of bluish marl at a depth of one metre. Soil with sub-alkaline reaction, low in nitrogen but rich in magnesium. These conditions guarantee a wine with a potency and refinement that is unique in Langa. Optimal tannic and aromatic development over time. Vinified only in the best vintages for Barbera grapes. Manually harvested, wildly fermented and raised for two years in French oak barrels. Limited production. This rarely makes it out of its homeland.
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Domaine des Escaravailles
Red and dark purple wine colour with bright reflections. Pleasant nose, with orange peel and rosemary aromas. The palate is elegant, smooth and well structured, with blueberry paired with soft spices, cloves and Timut pepper
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Domaines des Lampyres
Francois Xavier AKA 'FX' worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. Ninety percent Syrah (thirty years old) and ten percent Carignan (eighty years old) on schist terroir. Skin macération for seven days followed by whole-bunch fermentation in cuve and then bred in a 10hl Amphora for eight months. Just 2g/hl sulphites added just before bottling.
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Domaines des Lampyres
Francois Xavier AKA 'FX' worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. This wine is making its debut in 2022 vintage. It’s one hundred percent Malvoisie grown on schiste on a bed of argilo calcaire that sees skin macération for seven days then wild fermentation in cuve and then aged in small sandstone eggs (3hl) for eight months. Just before bottling 2g/hl of sulphites is added. Proper, deep orange wine. One for the ages.
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Dom. Gramiller
Absolutlely divine pet nat from Gramiller. So fine, fruity, fresh and elegant. 99% Clairette Brut, sown with 1% of the freshest Syrah which together give it aromas of white peaches, wild strawberries and red currants. The palate unfolds with these flavours whilst being juicy but oh-so fresh with the finest of tannins. An outstanding effort.
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Rivetto
Enrico Rivetto is one of the pioneers of the Nascetta grape in these times, and a seeker of truth for the varietal expression in his clay-limestone soils on Sinio at 400 metres altitude with northern exposure. The soils have a sub-alkaline reaction, low in nitrogen. Nascetta is a semi-aromatic grape native to Lange with excellent aging potential. Historical texts liken this varietal to the great wines of Rhein. Manually harvested, sometimes at different stages depending on the vintage conditions. Nascetta sees wild, spontaneous fermentation. 80% of the wine is macerated on skins for three days then sees spontaneous fermentation and then breeds in concrete tank. The other 20% is vinified in Amphora with post ferment maceration lasting for several months. These two portions are then blended just before bottling. The 2021 shows gorgeous yellow plum, honeysuckle and herbs on the nose. The wine is citrus-juicy, yet with good minerality and a lean and waxy structure that shows good tension. Quite wonderful and delightfully curious. "Macerated on the skins for 72 hours, this golden Nascetta lifts from the glass with aromas of baked apples, roast lemon and dried yellow flowers. The sublime texture is highlighted by dried orange, dried wild herbs and crunchy acidity" Jeff Porter in Wine Enthusiast 92/100
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Agricola Vintners
Callum Powell has learnt from the best when it comes to Syrah. He practically grew up in the cellars at Torbreck, the Barossa winery his father co-founded, watching it grow from the modest start up in a small shed to the international power house of today. He spent a year at Jean-Louis Chave in the Northern Rhone, one of THE top producers of Hermitage and St Joseph, learning more about his craft. His recent project with his father named Powell & Son sought out the best vineyards in Barossa and Eden and experimented with natural winemaking and indigenous yeasts, and gained him much international attention. Callum now brings his knowledge and natural instinct to his own wines. Sourcing fruit from his family's vineyards as well as the famous Hoffmann sites, Callum is quickly stepping out of his father’s shadow and making a name for himself. His time in Hermitage and the many hours working the perilously steep slopes of the vineyards continues to influence him today. His wines are both named after the towns from which the fruit is sourced, recalling the site specific way of naming wines in Hermitage. And he even likens his different wines to the characteristics produced from the different lieux-dits of Chave. Producing wines with a very light hand, with only minimal SO2 added a atr bottling, Callum aims to create lithe wines that are pure, unadulterated, and without the heavy oak influence that the region is known for, with a true traceability of place. Classic, bold, rich and beautiful Ebenezer fruit but with real energy and acidity. Pretty much perfect Barosssa Shiraz. It's classic, but modern - in the best sense. Absolutely wonderful. 12 bottles only available. Be quick!
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Domaines des Lampyres
Francois Xavier AKA 'FX' worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. One hundred percent eighty year old vine Carignan Noir. Macerated for seven days then whole bunch fermentation took place. The wine was bred in aged in 6 hl barrels for eight months. Just 2g/hl sulphites added just before bottling.
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Chateau Pin Beausoleil
Second wine of the excellent Le Pin Beausoleil. Guide Hachette 1 star "raspberry, wild strawberry, blackcurrant and violet: here is a pretty spring bouquet. A few subtle menthol notes add a touch of freshness. On the palate, everything is silky and there is no trace of tannins. It is indeed the fruit that reigns here throwing the Little Sun."
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Domaine des Trinités
Natural wine from Simon Coulshaw: no cultured yeast, enzymes, chemical tannins or fining product. 90% 130 yr old-vine Cinsault, 10% Syrah. I was instructed to chill this a bit before tasting. It was in the fridge for about 25 minutes and then left out for 10 minutes before tasting. Fresh red-berried nose. Hurrah! Here is another Languedoc producer who 'gets' Cinsault. Perky, bright, raspberries and with that lovely telltale Cinsault salty-sweet tang that always reminds me of the best prosciutto or jamon. A bit of white pepper and ground cumin tangled into feather-light sinews of tannin. This is absolutely YUM. Tapas/aperitivo wine, without a doubt. I could drink this all summer long. GV (TC) 17/20 Jancisrobinson.com
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Domaine des Trinités
Carignan 85% Grenache Noir 15% The old vine Carignan delivers bags of bramble and spice. Deep and rich in texture – a classic Languedoc wine in a refined style.
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Domaine Castera
So electric, so brilliant, so intense - tangy cooking apples, salty and savoury depth that's ever so juicy. Incredibly long, with an insanely beautiful rexture to boot. What a wine! We hope you fall as deeply for this wine as we have. 60% Petit Manseng, 30% Petit Corbu, 10% Gros Manseng. The Tauzy vineyard is exposed to the east. A fresh plot which allows the grower to push the maturities without the risk of developing over-ripe aromas and flavours. The soil is clay with iron. Yeild is 35hl/h with harvest carried out by hand in late October - only picking healthy, ripe, undried grapes. Vinification sees a slow pressing in whole bunches using only indigenous yeasts with no additional SO2 at this stage. Vinified in old wooden barrels of various sizes and sandstone eggs then aging on fine lees for 8 months in these containers, then a final three months in stainless steel vats before bottling with a very low dose of SO2. This dry Jurancon combines power and finesse and shall work well with smoked fish, grilled sardines, scallops, poultry in cream and strong sheep cheeses. Decanting recommended. The wine shall age gracefully for at least ten to fifteen years.
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Mas Lumen
Final assemblage: 55% Syrah, 35% Carignan & Cinsault and 15% Grenache Noir. Organically grown on schist, basalt and grés (sandstone) that yielded beautifully balanced fruit but at a very low 15 hl per ha. Manual harvest into small caskets. The Syrah and Grenache were both destemmed and vinified separately in 2yr and 5yr old 500l barrels (Saury). The Carignan was vinified on stems and in steel tank. The Cinsault was destemmed and vinified in steel tank. Natural yeast (no inoculated yeast used). Breeding took place in 2yr and 5yr old 500l barrels (Saury) for the Syrah and Grenache, and in steel tank for the Cinsault and Carignan, for a total time of 32 months with no batonnage. Bottled without fining or filtration. Bottled with a very, very low addition of sulphites (no sulphite additions at any point previously). No other additions at all. The wine has interest, complexity and depth, it is beautifully resolved - an elegant and pretty red-fruited wine with delightful freshness and length. With this quality and with the wines age, it’s a very nice offer indeed. The wine was selected (with one of the very highest scores) as one of 80 ‘Coups de Coeur’ by Guide Gault & Millau for the year 2020 Review below - "The colour appears black, intense with purple reflections. The nose presents an elegant maturity with predominantly fruity cherry and blackberry punctuated by spicy notes (pepper, cinnamon). In the mouth, the cherry is very present with other stone fruits (plum, prune). The leather and cocoa prolong a very fresh and digestible finish. The texture is dense and velvety. A complex and racy wine that evolves beautifully without losing its beautiful tension".
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Tesselaarsdal
Berene Sauls has a very unique story. Growing up in a small village in the Overberg, Berene admits that she came from a beer-drinking community, and wine was never really on her radar. Her first exposure was at the age of 19, when she began working for the trailblazing Hamilton Russell family as an au pair. Lasting only a month, her talents at childcare aside, Anthony Hamilton Russell recognised her drive and thought a job working in the winery office would better suit her. Thrown in at the deep end knowing really nothing about wine, she was soon exposed to every side of the business - assisting with exports, bottling and labelling, driving forklifts and picking during harvest too, as well as on the side, "growing and developing a palate that wasn't there!" Her curiosity kept her rising through the ranks, and fifteen years after starting her career, Anthony offered her the opportunity to make her first wine, aided by proficient head winemaker Emul Ross. She leapt at the opportunity, and the rest is history. She named her business Tesselaarsdal for the small village that she grew up in, and if you look closely at the label, you can make out two people walking across the mountain. This is Berene and her grandmother. From unirrigated vineyards on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, and this is just her third release! Crisp acidity and lean minerality underpin notes of melon and tangerine fruit and accents of lime blossom. A triumphant expression of terroir, this medium-bodied, cool climate wine is both silky and fresh and boasts a long, elegant finish.
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Savage
Duncan Savage matriculated at Rondebosch Boys High School in 1995. In 2016. Savage Wines was set up in the heart of Cape Town in Salt River. Vineyards for his wines are leased and grapes sourced from around the Western Cape, maritime in nature where possible. Granitic soil is the focus. From Duncan Savage: Grapes sourced from the Langverwagt farm in Kuils River on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Decomposed granite soils overlooking Table Bay and False Bay, a perfect home for maritime Stellenbosch Syrah. Three parcels of vines, all trellised but farmed as a sprawl canopy - a trellised bush vine of sorts. Soils are poor, vigour is low and grapes are scarce, all a perfect recipe for classically styled Syrah. All the fruit is sorted as whole bunches before spontaneous fermentation in conical foudre and open top fermenters. 30% of the fruit is fermented as submerged cap with regular aeration, the balance as a normal fermentation with 2-4 aerated pump overs per day. 2-3 weeks on skins is followed by basket pressing and aging in old 500L barrels for 13 months. The wine then spends a further 10 months in foudre prior to bottling. 2021 is a classic vintage. Obviously I’m slightly biased, but I do feel that this wine may be one of the best Savage Reds we have made to date. Plums, lavender, cola, violets and the characteristic Langverwagt white pepper. The palate is taught and focused compliments of the granitic soil tannin structure and a classic vintage. A wine that will drink well for the next 10-15 years
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Domaine Odyssee
Natural, organic Grenache Noir from a beautiful vineyard in Baixas, Roussillon. Grown with great care and wildly fermented and aged in tank. Floral, pretty and minerally fresh red fruits with soft texture and generous fruit. Really delightful Grenache. Vincent Carreras has been working in wine industry for 13 years. For nine years he worked for a winery in the south of the Roussillon, Andy Cook’s Mas Cristine and Coume del Mas. Working in the vineyard, cellar and commercial activities - the whole shebang! For four years now he has been employed by a family winery based in Maury - Clos des Vins d'Amour. Who work 25 hectares organically in the west of Roussillon. Mostly in commercial activities, but also working in the cellar. Alongside this, in 2016, Vincent started a new project - Domaine Odyssée. The 3.5ha of vineyards are in Calce and Baixas, in a heart of Roussillon. The sites are small, but unquestionably some of the most beautiful we have seen. Vincent draws on the experiences mentioned above and his time in New Zealand (2011), Argentina (2012) and Bordeaux 2011 to help fully realise what he has there in his exceptional terroir. Vincent works organically, using no weedkillers, no chemical products. He works by hand and with organic fertilizer (he is in conversion right now). He harvests his parcels by himself with friends and family. In the cellar, Vincent’s philosophy is a minimum of intervention "To keep the fruit and the terroir.". The wines are extracted gently with just a little pump over. No filtration, no fining. The only preservative is a little dose of sulphites in very low quantities at bottling "It is important for me the stabilise the wine in respect of the future customers".