‘La Minuette’ blended rosé comes from La Livinière limestone terroir. Its pale colour and floral bouquet represent the ‘Minuette’ variety of rose planted in Kenya by Tim Ford in 1982, during his 25 years of rose production in Africa. A nod to both the past and the future, ‘La Minuette’ exemplifies estate values of tradition and modernity. Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault from outstanding organic Minervois La Livinière vineyards. A lychee-tinged colour evokes a very Provençal style. On the nose, finesse and elegance dominate, offering a refined aromatic bouquet. Notes of fresh grapefruit and tart raspberries blend harmoniously with vine peach, while cherry blossom adds a delicate floral touch. On the palate, the wine is gourmand, with flavours of strawberry and raspberry supported by fresh notes of clementine and bergamot zest. The texture is crisp and tangy, balanced by a light minerality on the finish. Really outstanding for the cash.

Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. The colour is vibrant red and the aroma is full of ripe red forest berries. The taste is concentrated and nicely full-bodied with nuances of pepper, raspberry and blueberry.

Pale yellow colour. Expressive Riesling nose typical from limestone origin: citrus, light mineral notes, stony flavours, honey. Vivacious palate, crisp, amazing acidity and freshness. This is a very classic Roche Calcaire that finishes bone dry with a lacy texture. This wine will still need some time to open up and it is highly recommended to decant it in the first years after bottling.

Produced from beautiful organic Muscat grapes grown on a great schist terroir with a top-soil of schistous marl in the commune of Tautavel, facing south-east. The grapes are composed of 80% Muscat Petits Grains and 20% Muscat d'Alexandrie. Yields are very low at around 20 hl/ha. A manual harvest takes place in the morning, when the grapes have an alcoholic potential of 14.5°/15°. Very long direct pressing, at low pressure, followed by coarse settling overnight in the open air. Fermentation takes place in vat, at a temperature of 20-23°C. It is stopped by mutage with certified organic neutral alcohol (representing a maximum of 10% of the final volume). Aging takes place on fine lees, in closed stainless steel vats, sheltered from oxidation. This is the finest and freshest Muscat de Rivesaltes we've found. We are very happy to be shipping this great example from the finest of growers to the UK.

Laure Dubois runs this excellent estate with her husband Romain and has fully converted to Organic farming. The wines they produce are consistently good and elegant, mainly from the Lirac appellation, north West of Chateauneuf-du-Pape but also this Cotes du Rhone from just outside. The 2022 is the third year in five vintages that the wine has won a coveted Coup de Coeur top award in the Guide Hachette, the 'bible' of French wine. Charming, 'irresistible' and ready to drink it also offers outstanding value for money. Domaine La Lôyane was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2018 by the Guide Hachette. La Lôyane refers to the place where the estate is built, a place formerly occupied by wolves! The estate, founded in 1994, is located in the south of the Rhône Valley, near Avignon in the Lirac cru. The Dubois family has been cultivating its 20 hectares of vines there for 4 generations! And the last, with Romain Dubois, has converted the estate to organic farming. An extremely precise estate, which is constantly moving upmarket and producing wines from vines that are sometimes more than a century old!

PRO for Prosecco, VER for Vero (Truly in Italian) BIO for Biologico (Organic). The palate is soft and fresh, offering zippy acidity and a complex array of primary fruit flavours, including peach, pear and apricot. This is enjoyable on its own as an aperitif but also pairs wonderfully with oriental cuisine. All vineyards are situated on gentle hillside slopes in the Treviso province, at an altitude of 250 metres above sea level. The grapes are carefully handpicked in mid-late September when they have reached full maturity, but still retain a high acidity level, giving the freshness and fruitiness typical of Prosecco.

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".

Natural, biodynamic and vegan. Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre from 80 year old vines, Made without filtering or fining. Pale but gorgeous mid red colour. At first on the nose, you are like "What even is that?". Whatever it is, you know that you like it. Elegant, subtle fruit is intermixed with gentle herb, earth and savoury characters. Deep and wonderful. On the palate the wine is elegant and deep again, but not heavy in the slightest. Ruffled fruit and savoury notes with minerality and real finesse. These wines are like no other from the Roussillon. Outstanding.

Simon Coulshaw makes natural wines: no cultured yeast, enzymes, chemical tannins or fining product and farming with respect to the environment, although the domaine isn't certified organic. A funky red/white first appeared after the frost effected 2021 harvest. A much lower white crop than normal and a far fresher red one, led to this one-off cuvee from Roussanne, Grenache, Viognier and Syrah. It's fragrant, it's juicy, it's fun. It's has no adds whatsoever, not even any sulphites at bottling. This return in 2024 sees the small harvest of rich Viognier added to majority Grenache of the lighter, perfumed variety and also the whole production of Simon's 120yo Cinsault vineyard. Absolutely gorgeous wine that is a steal at this price.

Natural, organic Macabeu from a beautiful vineyard in Calce, Roussillon. Grown with great care and wildly fermented and aged in old oak barrels. Floral, racy and minerally with soft texture and generous apple and apricot fruit. Just lovely. 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".

There are many delightul Northern Rhone whites from 2023 and this is very much one of them. Performing very well in Crozes-Hermitage tastings in both Terres des Vins and La Revue du vin de France, well up amongst the big boys and girls of the appellation. 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne - half from loess soils on l'Homme at Larnage, half from loess soils on Les Pinets at Crozes-Hermitage. 90% steel vat, 10% new 600-litre oak cask fermented, raised 9 months, assembled just before bottling, malo completed. "fine yellow robe; the bouquet has a neat aroma of cooked citrus fruit, is graceful, appealing, carries a light nuttiness. The palate links well, is fresh and continuous, bears lightly salted, delicate content of white fruits with jasmin, white flower trembles through it. It’s elegant, well made, a bel ensemble, is precise, accurate, ends with soft gras, a bonny exit. 13°. 70% Mars, 30% Rouss. 2029-30 Oct 2024" **** John Livingstone-Learmonth on Drink Rhone "13% alcohol. 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne. Organic. This is textured, lively and vital with a fine lime and spice finish after a big flow of pear, melon and ripe apple fruit. Good concentration of flavour, interleaving subtly saline, mineral notes with ripe fruit to good effect". 94/100 Jamie Goode wineanorak.com

A True Blouge has arrived. In our opinion, the very best of the light red/mixed grapes/blouge style. It’s sappy, herbal and aromatic, the fruit is lythe, alive, long and lifted. Colour is extraordinary, but with the interest and complexity in the wine - it’s not just pretty coloured glou glou - it’s really vinous and interesting. Serve cool. It's made by Vincent Chansault who's day job is to make the brilliant Domaine Gayda wines. This is from his personal project in Minervois La Liviniere. It's a co-ferment of a single, 70yo co-planted vineyard in La Liviniere Minervois of Cinsault (red), Bourboulenc (white) and Grenache Gris (pink). Fermented wild in whole-bunches. 2,000 bottles produced. We have a nice chunk, but it won't last forever. One of the wines of 2025. Definitely the wine of the summer!

This is top-class. Silky, seductive and concentrated but with a light touch typical of the genre. From the website of UK agents Thorman Hunt: Domaine Grosbois is a 9h Domaine run by two brothers, Nicolas and Sylvain. Their family vineyard is located at a place called “The Pressoir” Panzoult in the Chinon appellation in the heart of the Loire Valley. Nicolas arrived at the family estate in 2008, after spending 10 years as a “flying winemaker” and having spent time in New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Oregon. After his time abroad, Nicolas strongly believes in not vinifying and ageing in wood, choosing concrete instead to preserve the freshness and vitality. No old oak has been used since 2015. Sylvain similarly spent time abroad in Chile, Oregon working for Domaine Drouhin and Australia. The brothers are passionate about organic viticulture and show their wines at The Raw Wine Fair. The Gabare cuvée comes from the old vines of a clay limestone vineyard. The grapes are destemmed and undergo a 2 to 3 day cold maceration. The wines undergo a 20 day cuvaison in concrete tanks and are then also aged in concrete.

Bright pale-yellow colour. Discreet nose which is slowly opening on fresh citrus fruits and light smoky aromas, a characteristic often found on this grape variety. This is almost a Riesling like nose with lots of precision and tension. Palate is dry and is supported by a ripe acidity. The finish shows an enjoyable velvety and elegant mouthfeel with again fresh white fruits flavours. The Windsbuhl character shows strongly in this wine and will allow for a nice evolution over the next few years.

Notes of cherry and raspberry, with a sniff of garrigue. A delightful mouthfeel with silky tannins and notes of black fruits and spices, ending with a tangy finish and a good length. Beautiful Syrah and Carignan from the Roussillon grown on gneiss. The Syrah was destemmed and fermented then raised in 5yo oak barrels, The Carignan was fermented whole bunch then raised in stainless steel to preserve it brilliant brightness. A great En Passant.

Laure Dubois runs this excellent estate with her husband Romain and has fully converted to Organic farming. The wines they produce are consistently good and elegant, mainly from the Lirac appellation, north West of Chateauneuf-du-Pape but also this Cotes du Rhone from just outside. The 2022 is the third year in five vintages that the wine has won a coveted Coup de Coeur top award in the Guide Hachette, the 'bible' of French wine. Charming, 'irresistible' and ready to drink it also offers outstanding value for money. Domaine La Lôyane was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2018 by the Guide Hachette. La Lôyane refers to the place where the estate is built, a place formerly occupied by wolves! The estate, founded in 1994, is located in the south of the Rhône Valley, near Avignon in the Lirac cru. The Dubois family has been cultivating its 20 hectares of vines there for 4 generations! And the last, with Romain Dubois, has converted the estate to organic farming. An extremely precise estate, which is constantly moving upmarket and producing wines from vines that are sometimes more than a century old!

100% Muscat d'Alexandre, fermented on skins (orange). Fermented dry, jasmine tea, crystallised fruit. A real one-off and hugely in-demand. 2024 is super thrilling stuff. A sensational SuperNova!

A lovely red Crozes produced with fruit from the Domaine's established 50-year-old plus vineyards in eastern Les Chassis at Mercurol and in the south of Les Chassis at Pont de L'Isere. Both sites are marked with the classic Chassis terroir of red clay limestone with large, rolled pebbles. This cuvee in 2023 has elegance and lift, with suave, deep but charming fruit that has a lovely lush quality mixed with classic, complex iron notes, a nice tension and a lovely freshness. The tannins are beautifully judged here. Drinking now is a lovely experience, but this shall show well for a good few years to come. A gorgeous Crozes-Hermitage. Vendome are an established Domaine but have only started producing their own wines in the last couple of years. The wines have been very warmly received in both the French and international wine press in the debut 2020 vintage and in the following far trickier 2021 vintage. We are very happy to have struck up a relationship with the Domaine at such an early stage. The whole range is impressive across the board. Their classic red Crozes a great place to get acquainted. "Fair red robe; the nose has a smoked, pumice stone air, a leafy intonation, with discreet raspberry on the inside, is a calm opening. The palate carries a note of iodine, salting, that freshens it, is nicely droit, gives perfumed red fruits with a little vegetal tang that isn’t discordant. This fits together agreeably, has some of the crispness of the northern sector, its clarity. It can gain, amplify with another year or so, has commendable detail, some subtlety". **** John Livingstone-Learmonth on Drink Rhone "13% alcohol. Organic. Concentrated, fine and layered with a core of sweet berry and cherry fruits, with some peppery detail and also some subtle iodine and blood notes. Very fine and detailed, combining sweet fruit with some peppery framing and good energetic flow across the palate". 94/100 Jamie Goode wineanorak.com

Stop press! 2015 cellar release of Estaca Rouge 2015!!!! Only 30 bottles available. Be quick. Old vine Grenache grown on decomposed black schist with a limestone sub soil with some quartz, that produces something amazing. Ethereal, sublime and fresh, this achieves a level of finesse akin to fine red Burgundy. Remarkable, special, very good indeed.

M 3.0 Le Mauzac is a traditional method sparkling wine with no added sugar at any of the 3 stages of production. The only thing fermented and added (twice more) is organic Mauzac juice. This cuvée is without doubt the finest representation of Limoux's indigenous grape variety. First planted by the Romans, it is particularly well adapted to the climate and requires much less water than Chardonnay. This pure Mauzac has been aged for 36 months in bottle, then disgorged. It is a particularly impressive and very elegant take with fine, persistent bubbles. A real 'wow' that you NEED to know about. "A remarkable balance is revealed on the palate between a full, mellow body, fine tension and the freshness of the fruit, with the added bonus of a long finish of green apples that is the hallmark of Mauzac." Two Stars in Guide Hachette 2025

Produced exclusively from ecological grapes from artisan vineyards within the so-called Sherry Triangle. The ecological production techniques, typical of the Vinagre de Jerez Denomination of Origin have been used throughout the whole process, from the grape production, to the fermentation of the musts, to the acetification of the wine and the ageing of the vinegar. Why not drizzle this Organic Sherry Vinegar over a couple of fried eggs or over a plate of pulses, this vinegar will completely change the staples of the Mediterranean diet. Or how about using it to make a delicious marinade by combining it with garlic crushed with coarse-grained salt, black pepper, a clove and a pinch of paprika. It is also goes particularly well with a light fish escabeche.

Jancisrobinson.com of the 2016 Certified organic and HVE level 3. Roussanne (65%), Grenache Blanc (30%), Marsanne (5%), with a touch of Viognier. 15-year-old vines are planted north-facing at 550 m on stony clay-limestone soils. Barrel-fermented and aged eight months in demi-muids. pH 3.4. Pale to mid gold. Intense and fabulously complex aroma: hard to describe but there's honeyed pears, a touch of cedarwood, and a bready/yeasty sweetness like that of mature champagne. All those flavours on the palate and also a toasty, generous filling of the mouth yet with lovely – and quite surprising – freshness to balance, a tiny hint of resiny linseed oil. Complex and sustained. Although there are lots of tertiary flavours already, this should continue to age well (I've tasted older vintages that were quite remarkable). (JH)

100% Grenache (1920s) from sandy, clay-limestone galet stone soils on Pignan (N-E), destemmed, 5 week vinification at up to 28°C, cap punching and pumping overs, steel vat raised 18-20 months, unfined, unfiltered, 4,000 bottles produced. **** 2022 John Livingstone-Learnmonth on Drink Rhone "Quite a full red; the nose carries spice, with a crushed red berries core, a gentle floral grace. The palate is finely tuned, very true to its place, has an elegant coating that clads it in a supple texture all through, gives a true portrait of its sandy soils from this excellent lieu-dit. It gains a little correctly increased depth into its very calm finish, is well tuned. The finish brings in blood orange, iron notes. There is complexity to be accessed here over time. From 2027 or so to 2047-49". Tasted Oct 2023 "Tasted blind. Some bacon and meaty notes of reduction on the nose. Rich and weighty mid palate and chewy tannins. Good concentration of fruit and a lively red-raspberry finish. An attractive, savoury note alongside the raspberry notes. Elegant and fine, with a saline note creeping in on the end. Sculpted and elegant". 17/20 Alistair Cooper MW on jancisrobinson.com When to drink 2030 - 2040 Date tasted 5 Oct 2023 "An elegant and smooth style of Châteauneuf, ripe but not overly concentrated, with balanced (if gently warming) alcohol and acidity, some sandy mineral notes and precise berry fruits. The super-fine tannins are pure and expressive. It’s not a powerful style, but an intense one, with a long finish. Pure Grenache from vines aged more than 100 years old, from the sandy soils of Pignan nord; all aged in stainless steel". 95/100 Tasted by: Matt Walls for Decanter Magazine Drinking Window: 2027 - 2035 95-97+/100 Jeb Dunnuck 94/100 Vinous

Vinsobres is the most northern appellation of the Southern Rhône. The Perrin family owns around 80 hectares here. The vineyards grow at altitudes of 200 - 450 metres, in terraces, with the Prealps on one side and Mont Ventoux on the other. The soils are stony and sandy marl on the slopes, and stony quaternary alluviums on the terraces. A very particular microclimate protects the village and the vines planted which are planted in amphitheatre formation. Summers are hot and dry, with the local Mistral and Pontias winds bringing cooler air at night.

When Zind-Humbrecht acquired the Clos-Saint-Urbain vineyard on the Grand Cru Rangen in 1977, about half of the land wasn’t under vines and needed to be planted. This very steep vineyard requires a lot of hard manual work and some surfaces were left abandoned in the middle of the 20th century. Most vintages, the vines planted in the 70s and 80s are separated from the very old vines that qualify as Grand Cru. This wine clearly show all the originality of a volcanic geology which is unique in Alsace. They are also cultivated the exact same way as the older vines (ploughing with a winch for example). The biggest difference would be on the crop size. The Roche Volcanique is made with low yields, but the older vines produce even less! For these ‘younger vines’ they aim for very healthy grapes (no noble rot) in order to achieve a dry wine. Bright pale-yellow colour. Expressive fruity and smoky nose (smoked ham, grilled hazelnuts). The palate has a velvety texture, lots of depth and length without too much power. Gentle balance showing a saline acidity on the finish. Very easy wine to enjoy today. Dry, but with a certain softness due to a good dry extract that brings volume on the palate. Obviously Rangen in taste…

A blend of Viognier 40%, Roussanne 40% and White Grenache 20%. 20 year old vines are planted in mixed soils of clay, limestone and round pebbles. Peachy aromas, with a fresh and expressive palate that's juicy and very pleasing. More peach flavour from the Viognier and a weighty mid-palate from the Roussanne. Excellent value for money. Grapes are mechanically harvested and vinification takes place in temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks, with regular stirring of the lees. This preserves the freshness and fruitiness of the wine. Domaine La Lôyane was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2018 by the Guide Hachette, France's wine bible. La Lôyane refers to the place where the estate is built, a place formerly occupied by wolves! The estate, founded in 1994, is located in the south of the Rhône Valley, near Avignon in the Lirac cru. The Dubois family has been cultivating its 20 hectares of vines there for 4 generations! And the last, with Romain Dubois, has cnverted the estate to organic farming. An extremely precise estate, which is constantly moving upmarket and producing wines from vines that are sometimes more than a century old!

The Guimberteau family has owned the Château Franc-Baudron estate since 1923. This is a vineyard on a human scale where each generation has left its footprint on the family heritage. Since 2010, the new generation of Château Franc-Baudron, Charels and Sophie Foray, have embarked on an environmental approach by converting the entire vineyard to organic farming. The area hosts bee-hives, uses plants for treatments (horsetail, nettle and ferns) and seeds flowers to encourage biodiversity of wildlife in the vines. They have begun implementing new winemaking techniques by using minimal inputs to express at its best the nature of the grapes and the type of soil. Most of the family’s plots of Montagne Saint-Emilion are located on a clay-limestone plateau. Certified Organic. 14.5% ABV Deep ruby. Pretty aromas of cherry and blackberry, vanilla. Medium -bodied and appealing, good light extraction leaves the fruit and acid to the fore and will be accessible young. Excellent value.

100% Grenache from 130+ year old vines. Complex floral aromas. On the palate the fruits, such as raspberry and morello cherry, are crunchy and fresh. There is also a very strong stony/mineral feeling. The finish is long and pure. A vibrant wine. 97/100 Matt Walls, Decanter Magazine March 2024

Old vine Grenache grown on decomposed black schist with a limestone sub soil with some quartz, that produces something amazing. Ethereal, sublime and fresh, this achieves a level of finesse akin to fine red Burgundy. Remarkable, special, very good indeed.

Warm ruby colour, bright with hints of mahogany. Fresh red fruits and notes of dried flowers on the nose and a smooth, fresh and full-bodied palate with fine and silky tannins. Long and aromatic. A vibrant easy-drinking Grenache-Syrah blend, named after the real-life lovechild of famed medieval lovers Abélard & Héloïse. Younger in age and spirit than its complex, collectible 'parents', it aims to deliver fresh fruit but also nice spice, concentration and length.

A wonderfully fresh and juicy Chinon, perfect for summer drinking. Chill it and enjoy in the sun! From the website of UK agents Thorman Hunt: Domaine Grosbois is a 9h Domaine run by two brothers, Nicolas and Sylvain. Their family vineyard is located at a place called “The Pressoir” Panzoult in the Chinon appellation in the heart of the Loire Valley. Nicolas arrived at the family estate in 2008, after spending 10 years as a “flying winemaker” and having spent time in New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Oregon. After his time abroad, Nicolas strongly believes in not vinifying and ageing in wood, choosing concrete instead to preserve the freshness and vitality. No old oak has been used since 2015. Sylvain similarly spent time abroad in Chile, Oregon working for Domaine Drouhin and Australia. The brothers are passionate about organic viticulture and show their wines at The Raw Wine Fair. The Cuisine de ma mère comes from their young vines from clay and sand and is designed for early drinking. The grapes are destemmed and undergo a 5-day skin maceration, fermented in concrete and then aged in concrete.

Rich and complex aromas with notes of toasted vanilla, rich ripe white fruits and a touch of hazelnut and brioche. Lovely rich and fresh primary flavours linger, supported by a natural acidity which extends the finish. The palate mirrors the aromas. A burgundy-style white to pair with salmon or poultry in cream sauce, pâté and hard-to-pair dishes like artichoke, asparagus, salty cheeses. Serve lightly chilled at 14°C.

Jancisrrobinson.com "Primary nose with dark fruits, mulberry and spice. Powerful and brooding palate with juicy red fruits and quite marked tannins. Simple but well put together. (AC)" Domaine de l’Oratoire Saint-Martin is an historical vineyard in Cairanne of 25 hectares, farmed according to organic and biodynamic standards. Cultivated for ten generations by the Alary family, the estate has reached iconic status in the region largely thanks to the work of brothers Frédéric and François Alary who took over the running of the estate in 1984. In the summer of 2020, the Alary family finally had to relinquish the property and, looking to ensure the continuity of this great Southern Rhône estate, chose Château Mont-Redon as their preferred buyer. Pierre Fabre of Mont-Redon is committed to the same farming and production principles that have given these wines cult status. With its steep slopes of yellow and blue clay soils (with a high active limestone percentage) this north-eastern part of Cairanne can truly be considered one of the Southern Rhône’s stand out regions. Vines are de-budded and pruned short, vineyards are grown organically and biodynamically and harvesting is by hand. Yields are inevitably low. Vineyards are old and consist of Grenache and a notably high proportion of Mourvèdre, unusual for the appellation, with Syrah making up the numbers. Vines are replanted using massale selections. In the winery fermentations are carried out naturally in large open top wooden fermenters and ageing is carried out for 18 months in neutral used oak hogsheads and tonneaux. Bottling is without fining or filtration so the wines can throw a deposit. From bud to bottle, every step of this wine-growing process is designed to highlight the outstanding terror of this part of the Rhône. These wines have a real sense of place. They are alive, clear, and drinkable. They age famously well, too.

This full-bodied, cedar and richly tannic wine finishes with flourishes of cherry and vanilla. It's a bit modern and ripe but frankly delicious. Dom. La Lôyane: The Winemaker Established at the foot of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce sanctuary in Rochefort-du-Gard, not far from the ancient marshes drained by monks in the Middle Ages, this estate, founded in 1994 from the merger of three small holdings, has demonstrated great consistency in quality. Succeeding his parents, Jean-Pierre and Dominique, Romain Dubois and his wife, Laure, now sole proprietors of the estate, have created a new cellar and converted the 20 hectares of vines to organic farming. A (very) reliable asset.