Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable, Vegan, Vegetarian ... we have something for everyone!
The differences can be confusing but we hope this explanation will help: an Organic wine is a wine made from grapes that have been grown without the use of artificial or synthetic chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides; a Biodynamic wine means that the grapes are farmed biodynamically and that the winemaker did not make the wine with any common manipulations such as yeast additions or acidity adjustments; and a Sustainable Producer is someone committed to using methods that reduce soil erosion, pesticide dependency and loss of biodiversity (for example providing owl boxes and raptor perches in vineyards to maintain ecological control of mice!).
The type of fining agent used in creating wine will determine whether it is awarded Vegan-Friendly status (no animal-derivative agent is used i.e. the winemaker may use Bentonie Clay) or Vegetarian-Friendly status (the use of egg white or casein - a milk product) or neither (where gelatin, isinglass or chitosan may be used).
A Sulphite free wine? Unfortunately, there is no true “sulphite free wine” or “sulphur free wine” as very low levels are naturally produced during fermentation. But for those of you sensitive to sulphur, we suggest trying a Natural, Organic or Biodynamic wine who's 'sulphite-status' is lower than most.
Natural wine is wine made with minimal chemical and technological intervention, both in growing grapes and making them into wine. The term is used to distinguish such wine from organic wine and biodynamic wine because of differences in cellar practices. So there we go - now you are in the know!
2020 Cascavel Les Terroirs des Papes, AOP Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Regular price £19.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
The wine has a complex and fresh nose of red fruit, combined with slightly menthol-like notes of red fruit.
Mouth
On the palate, it is rich and full, with a natural elegance, and the silky tannins make it an immediately accessible and pleasant wine, with clear qualities to keep it for a while (5-7 years, depending on its expected profile).
The Cascavel wines are polished, authentic and very fairly priced for their quality.
Background
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2025 - 2027 |
Food & Serving Information |
BBQ Beef, Chateau Briand and Grilled Lamb as well as Chocolate Desserts |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic |
Origin | Rhône, Ventoux |
Appellation | AOC Ventoux |
NV Les Fleurs Blanches, Vin Mousseux
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Fruity fun fizz! Organic too!
Tasting Notes
Bright and lively, packed with orchard fruit, and with all of the white flower aromas its name suggests. The perfect party wine, this is soft, approachable, and all too easy to drink.
Production
Made in the same way as Prosecco, this tank-method organic sparkling wine is crafted in a deliberately vibrant and youthful style. It has been simply but classically packaged.
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Airen |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 11.5% |
Units of Alcohol | 8.63 units |
Type | Fizz |
Food Matches | The ideal apéritif, alongside canapés or an antipasti selection. Serve between 8-10°C |
Cellaring Potential | 12 months |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Features | Vegetarian, Organic |
2021 Chateau Maucoil Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Regular price £28.95 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A very proper, full-bodied, organic white from the southern Rhône.
Tasting Notes
Intense and vinous on the nose, leading into a bright, mineral-inflected yet rich palate that is subtly floral and beautifully textured with a full, long finish.
Producer
Château Maucoil’s vineyards are primarily located in the sandy-soiled northwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, but its white grape varieties are planted in Urgonian limestone soils close to the river in the southwest of the region.
Vineyards have been managed organically (certified in 2014) and yields are kept to around 25 hl/ha. Harvesting is by hand and grapes are sorted before vinification.
After a cold skin maceration and pressing, alcoholic fermentation is maintained at 18°C and malolactic fermentation is prevented in order to preserve the wine’s freshness and acidity. The wine is unfined and aged in vats to bring out the varietal aromas and body, synonymous with white wines from the southern Rhône.
Did you know?
Maucoil is one of the few Châteauneuf-du-Pape estates that has conserved all thirteen of this famous appellation's original grape varieties, and grapes must pass through three rigourous stages of manual sorting before being deemed of high enough quality to be made into wine.
The estate's old vines (the youngest are merely 40 years old; the oldest date back to 1895!)
Château Maucoil (pronounced “moh-kwahl”) originally served as a base for Roman legions who were attracted by the spring that runs through the property!
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
Grenache Blanc 90%, Bourboulenc 8%, Clairette 2% |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | White Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic |
Food Matches | Pair with rich cuisine, shelfish, grilled salmon, veal cutlets with chanterelle mushrooms. |
Origin | Rhône, France |
Appellation | Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
2021 Domaine Saint Paul Grenache Gris Rosé
Regular price £10.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This certified Organic & Vegan-Friendly rosé is possibly the prettiest pink we have!
Tasting Notes
Colour
Pale salmon pink color
Nose
It's delicate peachy colour reflects the exotic stone fruit and orange blossom on the nose
Palate
On the palate the wine has a softness and texture that some rosés lack, yet it retains a freshness to the finish. This wine fits perfectly into the centre ground between the more common summer fruit dominated rosés and the more textured white of the south of France.
Vinification
Direct pressing in a pneumatic press, settling after 48 hours at 8°C, alcoholic fermentation after yeasting at 14°C. Racking of wines and sulphating. No malolactic fermentation.
Estate
Domaine Saint-Paul is a fabulous organic estate, located close to Béziers in the commune of Colombiers in the heart of the Languedoc. Their focus is on traditional southern French grape varieties, with a huge amount of emphasis on work carried out in the vineyard to ensure the quality of grapes harvested is absolutely first class.
This hard work has resulted in a trio of exceptional wines.
Made predominantly from Grenache 'Gris' grapes that turn a pale pinky-grey colour when they ripen, this rosé is possibly the most attractive shade of pink of any we stock. Certified organic and vegan friendly.
Soil Type
The soil is mainly made up of limestone marl. There are traces of ancient fossilized mussels and oysters. These light soils allow a deep rooting of the vines which promotes the development and balance of the wines.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Grenache & Cinsault |
Country | France |
Alcohol Content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | 1-2 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic and Vegan Approved |
Food Matches | It will be appreciated as an aperitif or with grilled meats and mixed salads. Serve chilled at 8C. |
Origin | Languedoc Roussillon |
Appellation | Pays D'Oc
|
2022 Cave de l'Ormarine Duc de Morny Picpoul de Pinet
Regular price £10.89 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Vibrant and fresh, a perfect Picpoul!
Tasting Notes
Gently perfumed ripe melon fruit on the nose. The palate is ripe but retains excellent freshness, balanced by a touch of white pepper spice that is very typical of its grape variety. Deliciously long, the finish shows bright fruit and a clean, saline/mineral edge.
Production
Cave de l'Ormarine's vineyards lie at approximately 40 metres above sea level on a chalky clay plateau, rich in Cretaceous limestone and quartz. The vineyards lie to the North of the Lac de Thau and slope towards it. Ormarine's head winemaker Cyril Payon makes this Duc de Morny cuvée with a premium selection of grapes from 15+ year old vines, harvested at night to retain their aromatic freshness. They are de-stemmed and macerated on their skins followed by a fifteen-day fermentation without malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Cave de l'Ormarine is an award-winning co-operative which produces wines from the tiny Pinet de Picpoul appellation in the Hérault. The l'Ormarine cellar was established in 1922 when vignerons from Pinet joined forces and formed a winegrowers' association.
Today, the Cave de l'Ormarine is a conglomeration of five separate co-operatives from across the Hérault, each with their own specific terroirs and styles of wine. It is proud to have 470 members farming more than 2,500 hectares of vines.Its flagship Picpoul wines are fresh and terroir-driven, and hugely influenced by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang de Thau, which act as a thermal regulator for the vineyards. In fact, it is said of Picpoul that, "Son terroir, c'est la mer (Its terroir is the sea)."Cave de l'Ormarine has made significant investment in its winery, and prides itself on the high-quality standard and traceability of its grapes.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Spot on - clean, fresh as a daisy, lovely melon fruit titillated with a touch of pepper and a delightful, saline finish. Perfectly balanced and great for salads, shellfish, and chicken dishes. A bottle of this and a dozen oysters s’il vous plait. Bang on for a tenner - great value - over delivers and proves that coming off the well-worn path pays dividends." September 2022
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Piquepoul Blanc |
Country | France |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment and up to 3 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved, Organic |
Food Matches |
|
Appellation | AOP Picpoul de Pinet |
Origin | Languedoc Roussillon |
2021 Cave de l'Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet Sélection
Regular price £9.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Classic Picpoul - appealing ripe fruit with a fresh saline lift on the finish.
A crowd-pleaser and a very well-made one!
Tasting Notes
Nose
Delicately perfumed, ripe melon fruit on the nose.
Palate
The palate is weighty and ripe but remains fresh and saline.
Production
Cave de l'Ormarine's vineyards lie at approximately 40 metres above sea level on a chalky clay plateau, rich in Cretaceous limestone and quartz. The vineyards lie to the North of the Lac de Thau and slope towards it. Cyril Payon oversees the production and grapes are carefully selected and picked at different times to capture different flavour profiles. They are de-stemmed and macerated on their skins followed by fermentation for approximately 2 weeks without malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Cave de l'Ormarine is an award-winning co-operative which produces wines from the tiny Pinet de Picpoul appellation in the Hérault. The l'Ormarine cellar was established in 1922 when vignerons from Pinet joined forces and formed a winegrowers' association. Today, the Cave de l'Ormarine is a conglomeration of five separate co-operatives from across the Hérault, each with their own specific terroirs and styles of wine. It is proud to have 470 members farming more than 2,500 hectares of vines.
Its flagship Picpoul wines are fresh and terroir-driven, and hugely influenced by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang de Thau, which act as a thermal regulator for the vineyards. In fact, it is said of Picpoul that, "Son terroir, c'est la mer (Its terroir is the sea)."
Cave de l'Ormarine has made significant investment in its winery, and prides itself on the high quality standard and traceability of its grapes.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Piquepoul Blanc |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment and up to 2 years |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved; Sustainable practises & Organic |
Food Matches |
Perfect for any al fresco dining situation! Especially lovely with seafood - oysters, myssels and grilled fish & amazing with cheese. |
Appellation | AOP Picpoul de Pinet |
Origin | Languedoc Roussillon |
2018 Despagne-Rapin Les Piliers de Maison Blanche
Regular price £25.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%It’s pretty easy-going and the tannins are soft enough for you to keep wanting more. The finish is long and very pure.
“A family estate where enthusiasm is still cultivated by the slightly off-beat joy of creating natural, sincere and authentic wines” Nicolas Despagne.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of cassis and dark berry fruits lead to a rounded palate with supple blackberry and plum flavours and a delicate spice note. Always delivers excellent value Bordeaux.
Producer
The Château Maison Blanche takes its name from a large and beautiful building in white stone located in the heart of a large park. This is the family estate of Nicolas Despagne: an illustrious family of wine producers. Nicolas Despagne runs this 32 hectare estate and makes lovely, distinct wines. “Les Piliers” de Maison Blanche is a great value wine, with a lovely vibrant colour and a nose of supple berries with just the beginnings of spice and dried fruits.
Production
Les Piliers de Maison Blanche is the second wine of the domain. It is made up of wines from young vines enhanced by “coupes” of great wine from old vines planted on the estate's historic terroirs. It is a medium aging wine which is tasted young for its firmness and power, between two and four years, then in its period of maturity, during which its fragrances are fully expressed, from age of seven.
Cultivation without pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers containing synthetic chemical molecules; tillage & grassing conversion to organic farming in 2006 (Écocert certificate), part of which in bio-dynamism since 2002.
According to traditional vinification rules, respecting the expression of the terroir in the fruit without adding yeasts, bacteria, nitrogen, tannins, enzymes, shavings, tartaric acid (etc.) without recourse, automated thermoregulation, artificial concentration, micro-bubbling (etc.) Malolactic fermentations in vats without seeding.
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 40 to 60% Cabernet Franc & 40 to 60% Merlot |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Read above! |
Features | Organic, Biodynamic, Vegan, Vegetarian |
Food Matches |
This wine goes very well with roast chicken with chanterelles. It also pairs well with red meat served with a sauce and venison |
Origin | Montagne de Saint Émilion |
Appellation |
Bordeaux |
2022 Domaine Mas Barrau Cabernet Franc
Regular price £9.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Cabernet Franc is much under-rated and rarely cultivated outside its traditional habitats of Bordeaux and Loire. At Domaine Mas Barrau in the Gard region of Southern Rhône, Boutinot’s Guillaume (Letang ) and Samantha (Bailey) have worked together with the family of this organic estate near Nîmes to produce a wine that sets new standards for Cabernet Franc.
Textured and luxurious this is a sophisticated Cabernet Franc from Gard. There is a wild 'after the rain' woodland perfume. The palate is incredibly long and layered with bramble fruit, bay and a touch of sweet prune on the finish.
Production Method
Guillaume Letang looked specifically for vines that are south-facing and can achieve the most sunlight to source the Cabernet Franc grapes for this wine. The terroir is full of limestone which gives rich yet soft and lightly acidic wine – this, in turn, gives the drinker a pleasantly sweet sensation on the palate.
Producer
Like all good stories, Boutinot France's is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. After 10 years, the business had grown and Samantha Bailey packed her bags to set up an office in Burgundy. Today, Boutinot has over 20 employees who take care of production across the whole of France, covering fresh whites and rosés from Gascony, mineral wines from Burgundy, and joyful varietal wines from Languedoc among others. We don't use any single 'model' to source our wines; instead, a combination of sources are used, from large-scale, high-quality co-ops to small, family growers and single domaines as well as our own vineyards in Cairanne and Saint-Véran. Drawing on the expertise of our 4 winemakers and network of partner growers, we seek to deliver the highest quality to price ratio possible at every price point.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Franc |
Country | France |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic |
Food Matches | Juicy lamb shanks, rich tomato-based dishes laced with roasted garlic and pepper, marinated steak with mashed potato and green beans or savour it at the end of the meal over a good cheeseboard. |
Origin | Gard |
Appellation | Pays du Gard |