Rougés, Blouges and Glouglous: Les Trouillères, Le Mazelet, La Varette, Oma Frida
Summer is in full swing! Whether you're on your way back, in the middle of your vacation, or just setting off, this is the time when, subtly, the atmosphere relaxes... We allow ourselves barbecues during the week, concerts here and there, and get-togethers with friends or family. At the Cellar, the shelves are stocked with seasonal bottles! But what is a seasonal bottle? For us, they are: -> reds to drink slightly chilled, perfect with simple grilled meats, griddled sardines, or a tomato salad; -> lively and crisp whites, to pair with grilled vegetables, seared fish, or garlic squid; -> refreshing beers, for thirst... but also for the table; -> and then characterful wines to accompany a rib of beef, BBQ duck breasts, or herb-crusted lamb chops.
Rougés, Blouges and GlouGlous
When the temperature rises, we crave thirst-quenching wines... Rougés are light, pale-colored reds, made from red grape varieties, with low alcohol content (10.5–12.5°) and to be served around 15°C. Neither rosés nor classic reds, they have everything to please! The "Plaisir" Cinsault from the Le Mazelet estate in the Cévennes: 75cl of pure thirst-quenching wine. The "Primo" (Gamay from Gers.../Cabernets) from Julien at Chai Côtier, a natural winemaker in the Basque Country, or even the Gamay des Cousins from Montgilet in the Loire. When it comes to a Blouge, these are blends of red and white. We think of Guillaume Noire and his Grolleau blended with Chenin, the "La Pigné" cuvée from Bariolés (Auvergne Gamay & Muscat Chardonnay), or even "Moitié Route" (Syrah, Cinsault and Muscat Chardonnay). And also Les Trouillères, a new arrival at the Cellar: juicy, full-bodied, mouth-watering; a trio of Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Glouglous? They are a bit of both – low alcohol without tannins! Wines for friends, for charcuterie boards, long aperitifs, and shared good times.
From Provence, you can see Corsica... yes, a little!
When the wines from Cadière-d'Azur arrive, they bring back good memories of returning from holidays in the Var! Under their trees with a gentle breeze and large tables of local winemakers... Les Luquettes, a family estate since 1843, is now run by the mother, daughter, and son who naturally cultivate their 15 hectares with their old 1852 press. You'll find Mourvèdre, Grenache (for Bandols), Cinsault, Alicante (for red IGPs) and Cinsault, Grenache Noir (for rosé IGPs). For great thirsts or when there are many guests, a new 5L Bag-in-Box is available! And what if we extended the adventure? By boat from Bandol heading to Northern Corsica, to our colleague Romain, at Domaine Alzipratu, nestled in the foothills of Monte Grosso, 8 km from Calvi.
Indigenous grape varieties like Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu (red for grilled meats), or Vermentino & Biancu Gentile (white for Mediterranean cuisine)... Sunshine and freshness guaranteed!
LA VARETTE: Natural and Spontaneous Beers
Nothing more natural than the work of Benjamin from La Varette in Ibos in the Hautes Pyrénées! He harvests seasonal plants, herbs, and fruits, then produces his brews through spontaneous or indigenous fermentation. The result? A drink somewhere between natural wine and wild beer, with or without hops – the French name for it is "Gruit" or "Gruau"... from the Dutch "Gryute": vibrant, complex, refreshing; nature speaks for itself, and history too, as we go back to the early Middle Ages! The first sip might be a little disorienting, but once you get a taste for it... you quickly move on to the large format. 
To be enjoyed between 9/10°C, not below... ;)... On the menu: Dandelions, wild carrots, pine shoots, elderberries; discover them without delay.
OMA Frida....
Head to Guéthary, to Adeline's, who works with Chambourcin, a hybrid grape variety with astonishing suppleness, beautiful acidity, and subtle smoky notes. In Oma Frida's Cuvée 2, it becomes a sparkling frizzante, refreshing, with infusions of rosemary, elderflower, and linden; and most importantly, alcohol-free! An artisanal and gastronomic drink, from this new generation of uncompromising offerings. Try it!
