Chenin Blanc Bouillon aux Dames, Les Equilibristes, Languedoc, France
Les Equilibristes is the brainchild of this pair as they aim to produce one of a kind, quirky cuvees from small estates all across France. Most importantly, their central ideal is to fashion wines that possess the équilibre (‘balance’). Each year, they visit their grower friends and purchase a select amount of grapes from which they produce terroirs-driven, organic cuvees that express a clear identity and sense of place. The results are simply stunning, as Florent (the winemaker) uses little to no added sulphites and other minimal intervention techniques to allow the grapes to truly speak for themselves.
Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Cesar, Domaine Roche-Audran, Southern Rhone, France
Vincent Rochette comes from a long line of grape growers rather than winemakers. In 1998, he bucked that trend by investing in a cellar and the necessary equipment to allow him to vinify his own grapes, which for five generations had been sold to other winemakers in the area. Vincent is an ardent believer in the benefits of biodynamics, fully converting his estate to follow that philosophy in 2006. He uses only natural products in the vineyard and carries out all his work in keeping with the cosmic cycles of the earth, not only among the vines but also in the cellar
Maury Domaine Lafage, Rousillon, France
Located between the sea and the mountains, half way between Perpignan and the Mediterranean coast, Domaine Lafage is one of our favourite new discoveries. Six generation ‘vignerons’, Jean-Marc and Eliane carry on the Lafage tradition, maintaining their family style of balanced, elegant wines displaying up front fruit. Their hard work has been rewarded with many accolades and medals from the Guide Hachette. What makes their estate particularly interesting is the fact that they grow a wide range of grape varieties (16) and produce an eclectic and varied range of wine styles, from crisp, clean whites to rich, fortified reds
Mentou Salon Morogues, Domaine Pelle, Loire Valley, France
For a long time, Menetou Salon was viewed as the poor relation of nearby Sancerre. Producers such as Domaine Pellé have ensured that is no longer the case. Anne and Paul-Henry Pellé currently preside over the family estate, the 4th generation of the Pellé family to tend vines here. They farm in a truly sustainable manner and aim to communicate the unique expression of the Menetou Salon terroirs in each bottling. Their ‘Morogues white’ is a blend of 7 different parcels from the highest slopes of the appellation. This location ensures the vines, which are rooted in Kimmeridgian marl soils, are exposed to cool temperatures coupled with long sunshine hours
Domaine Des Baumard, Cremant de Loire, Carte Turquoise, France
One of the Loire’s most lauded producers, Florent Baumard has courted controversy by pursuing his own ideas and challenging the status quo.
In a deeply traditional region, Florent’s early adoption of screwcaps and different vine trellising systems marked him out as the enfant terrible of Savennières. His mantra now encompasses a belief in the individuality of each vintage, believing it should be made with minimal intervention to allow the wine to reflect its vintage and unique character. His Savennières from the famous vineyards of Clos St Yves and Clos du Papillon are rich, yet with a balance and elegance that are unrivalled. His top cuvée of ‘Trie Speciale’ is only made in very exceptional vintages when grape quality is optimal. It is a wine full of paradox, honeyed and yet dry, rounded and yet firm. The rich fruit, tremendous weight and concentration ensure that it is a thoroughly memorable experience
