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Corsica often rhymes with holidays, an ideal destination between mountains and beaches; here's a taste with Domaine Alzipratu in the north of the island in Calvi in an idyllic setting by the sea. The wonderful "Fiumeseccu" cuvées - in white a fragrant, floral and saline Vermentino with a beautiful minerality on the palate. The red is a Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu and Elegante (Corsican black Grenache!), with black fruits, spices and light smoke with a fine and fresh tannic structure.
Let's then head to the Jura, an area we also adore for its subtle wines of great character and its wild and peaceful landscapes at the same time! In all colors and styles, these are wines of great emotions. From limestones to marls of all colors... to schists, a great diversity of magical terroirs. The latest arrival from Michel Gahier, one of the kings of the Trousseau grape variety, a discreet, even secretive man... with wines much less discreet and delicious! For any lover of Jura wines who has never discovered his wines, don't delay!
Next, the wines of Julien Mareschal on the steep slopes of Pupillin just above the beautiful city ofArbois, a more publicized winemaker with vibrant wines. Trousseau, Ploussard and Pinot Noir for reds and Chardonnay or Savagnin for whites, all the way to the fabulous and mythical "Vin Jaune" - a wine that defies time.
The village of Calce just above Perpignan in the Pyrénées Orientales is also a destination to note for those who love the heat! Wild, dry and raw mountains! At the gates of Cathar country, Quéribus and Peyrepertuse on the horizon behind you and facing the Mediterranean, what beautiful walks in perspective! The meeting between Séverin Barioz, the winemaker and Calce (meaning lime - limestone rock..) and his grapes sparkle from the vine to the bottle. Let's listen to Séverin evoking the origin of the domain name Face B: "The B-side of a vinyl is not the hits side, but it's the side of hidden gems that we enjoy discovering. The B-side is also the realization of a second life, the one that maturity and perseverance offer us.” A winemaker and his Macabeu, white, grey or black Grenache, Syrah or Carignan wines are absolutely worth discovering too!
Another Cathar site, south of the city of Minerve at the foot of the Montagne Noire, in Azillanet at Pech d'André in the Minervois region then! A multitude of endemic Languedoc grape varieties: Bourboulenc in white, Aramon and Piquepoul noir or Alicante in red. These grape varieties resist much better to high temperatures and therefore produce fresher, less alcoholic wines (11° for the Caracole 2022!!), more saline. A formidable commitment by Philippe Lelong in his work and the preservation of his family estate existing since 1701! As well as the possibility of bringing back his bottles for reuse…! Via the #Reverredire collective.
Then let's completely change the scenery and go up to the Massif Central to Jean Luc Gaumon at the Clos de Chozieux in Forez in Haute Loire! Nestled on the first foothills of the Auvergne volcanoes in the small appellation (just 150 hectares..!) of the Côtes du Forez. The minerality and fruity freshness are found throughout the different cuvées on granite or basalt with, for reds, a grape variety specific to the region: Gamay Saint Romain... with small, tight bunches, growing straight, giving characteristic spicy and peppery wines. Or the astonishing Gamaret, a fresh grape variety of Swiss origin with notes of ripe plum, licorice and violet... delicious, crunchy and finely rustic at the same time... very Swiss, indeed ;);)
