No hesitation: the tide is getting married in white. Wines from Burgundy, Alsace from the Loire or Languedoc compete to accompany marine treasures, raw or in sauce. Fruity, mineral, iodized, salty… everyone will find their taste partner.
Simmonet-Febvre Vaillons – Chablis-premier-cru 2019 organic
This recognized signature of the Yonne vineyard, today in the bosom of Louis Latour, offers a premier cru from the left bank of the Serein marked by tension and freshness. Cocktail of citrus fruits (lemon, tangerine) and exotic fruits (mango) on the palate. 28 €.
Belargus Ronceray – Anjou blanc 2018
Ivan Massonnat imprints a Burgundian vision on his estate located in the heart of Anjou Noir. With chenin as his only instrument, he interprets a veritable symphony of these terroirs. Like this magnificent blend, vinified dry, of plots from the croup of Quarts-de-Chaume. The floral notes open on a dazzling mineral line. 30 €
Louis Jadot Clos de la Croix de Pierre – Pernand-vergelesses white 2017
The famous Beaune trading house delivers quality skittles with watchmaking precision. Like this amazing white, from a small vineyard embedded in the En Caradeux premier cru, at the foot of the Corton mountain. Floral (acacia), white fruit (pear), citrus (yuzu) and vanilla notes. 30 €
Joseph Drouhin – Côtes-de-beaune white 2018
Coming largely from the family vineyard run biodynamically, in particular young vines from the famous Clos des Mouches, this lively and elegant white is a delight. Wrapped in its pale gold color, it releases tasty aromas of honey, grilled almond and hazelnut refreshed by lemongrass. €35.
Fournier Father
In Sancerre, this place called the Terres Blanches is considered a grand cru of the appellation. A plot selection that perfectly illustrates the quality of the terroir and the know-how of this line of winegrowers to offer the most beautiful expressions of Sauvignon Blanc without aging in wood. Sweet notes of apricot and lime blossom, long and saline finish. 44 €
Domaine Trapet Grand Cru Schoenenbourg – Alsace Riesling 2018
The first vintage of Pierre and Louis Trapet, the new generation of this emblematic domain of Riquewihr, is a success. The mineral purity of this great terroir explodes on the palate in a whirlwind of citrus and white flower notes. A wine that you will have to know how to wait for to appreciate it at best. €60.
Château Malherbe Grand Blanc – Côtes-de-provence white 2016 organic
In this old farmhouse in Fort Brégançon, in the heart of a 25-hectare biodynamic vineyard, Rolle and Sémillon flourish in the foothills of Cap Bénat. Aromas of quince, honey, orange and candied pineapple refreshed by floral touches of broom and lime blossom. 48 €
Louis Latour – Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018
With no less than 10.5 hectares, the venerable house run by Louis-Fabrice Latour is the largest owner of this legendary cru on the Côte de Beaune. Breed, density and tension characterize this long-keeping cuvée with aromas of white peach, fresh hazelnut, acacia honey and vanilla. €154.
These fine and tasty dishes, roasted or in sauce, call red or white. Easy, the agreement follows the color of their flesh. And ecumenical, all regions are welcome.
Château L’Isle Fort – Bordeaux-superior red 2018
The beautiful domain of Sylvie Douce and François Jeantet, at the gates of Bordeaux, offers one of the best value for money in the appellation. On the approximately eight hectares of the estate, advised by the excellent Stéphane Derenoncourt, Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Franc give a gourmet wine, but very straightforward and precise. 13 €
Domaine La Florane Terre Pourpre – Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Visan 2018 organic
In the heart of the enclave of the Popes, an isolated piece of Vaucluse in the Drôme Provençale, this family property cultivates with passion 38 hectares in organic farming and biodynamics. The blend of Grenache (80%) and Mourvèdre is fleshy and tasty here. Notes of black cherry and garrigue, supple tannins. Terrific value for money. 15 €
The Charity of Château Sanctus – Saint-émilion 2018
Cellar master Caroline Gaullier has been watching over the 15 hectares of this Saint-Emilion estate for ten years. Under his leadership, vintage after vintage, the wine gains in precision and elegance. Very majority Merlot (80%) obliges, this one is already ready to drink, crunchy and digestible. Floral notes (rose) and small fleshy and juicy berries (raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant). Pleasure at a low price. 18 €
Domaine Silène des Peyrals – Languedoc grés-de-montpellier 2019 organic
Jean-Claude Mas, merchant at the head of a beautiful skewer of prestigious Languedoc wines, bought this estate in 2014. The property would take its name from the discovery of a clay seal representing the head of Silene, the tutor of Bacchus . Succulent notes of black cherry and spices exude from this suave and gourmet wine. €19.90
Jean Fery
“Growing grapes to make wine is the best job in the world!”, likes to remind Jean-Louis Féry, who runs the family estate with peasant roots with his son Frédéric. In this supple and charming red, you bite into very juicy small black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry) with each sip. 29 €
Domaine de La Perrière Sacrilege – Sancerre red 2016
In the shadow of King Sauvignon, Pinot Noir is also enjoying its best days in Sancerrois. As demonstrated by this cuvée imagined by the Saget brothers, heavyweights from Centre-Loire. A full-bodied and silky wine, with aromas of Morello cherry, black (blackcurrant, blackberry) and red (raspberry) berries. Elegantly spicy finish. 30 €
Domaine Grosbois Montet – Chinon red 2019 organic
The new cuvée from this friendly Touraine estate is a (mini) revolution. This is their first wine to frequent wood. Tailor-made aging due to the terroir from which this pure Cabernet-Franc comes: a slab of limestone covered with pebbles rolled by the Vienne. Lots of crunch and freshness adorn a bouquet of wild strawberries, white flowers and liquorice. 32 €
Clos des Centenaires Art’ – IGP du Gard blanc 2019
From his twenty-five hectares planted between land and sea, on the side of the Petite Camargue, Luc Baudet produces cuvées full of sunshine and freshness. This (almost) pure Roussanne delivers delicious aromas of white fruit (peach, pear, green apple, quince), toast and acacia honey. 35 €
Château L’Hospitalet Grand Vin – La-clape blanc 2019
Gérard Bertrand embodies one of the finest successes of the Languedoc mondovino and well beyond. The merchant has built an empire on quality and audacity. Like its Château L’Hospitalet, which has become a beacon of wine tourism in the region and a sacred purveyor of good skittles. Scents of garrigue and fennel, roasted hazelnut lead to a salty finish. 39 €
Château Brane-Cantenac – Margaux 2014
For almost thirty years, Henri Lurton has pampered this nugget of the Margaux appellation. This second Grand Cru Classé in 1855 combines an elegance and a silky mouthfeel typically from Margaux which make it ideal for pairing with delicate flesh. Tasty notes of black fruits (blackcurrant, cherry), white pepper and cocoa. 70 €
At the foot of Mont Chauve Les Macherelles – Chassagne-montrachet white 2019 organic
Heir to a line of Burgundy winegrowers, Francine Picard has become a master in the art of taming the flamboyant climates that surround Montrachet. This biodynamic plot of sixty-year-old Chardonnays produces a powerful and saline white, whose minerality explodes in the mouth. 76 €
Domaine La Cavale Blanc – Luberon white 2020 organic
A long exploration in the depths of the Cucuron estate convinced Paul Dubrule that his terroir could produce a great white. It is up to his son-in-law, Thierry Mueth, to ensure its development. Ample and deep, the blend of Mediterranean Vermentino (75%) and Rhone Grenache Blanc should stand out among the nectars of the South. 80 €
Refined wines with polished tannins will serve a fine piece of Charolais or Galician beef; those with a darker color, powerful and robust, will have conversation with the venison in sauce. Mushrooms and their notes of undergrowth, or better, black truffle, will sublimate these accords.
Mas Janeil Arrels – Côtes-du-roussillon-villages 2018
At the foot of a cliff dominated by the Château de Quéribus, 35 hectares of vines have their roots (arrels in Catalan) in a mosaic of terroirs. Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre seek their pittance in shales, limestone, alluvial sands or rolled pebbles. Notes of fresh red fruits mixed with spices and liquorice. 22 €
Domaine de l’Hortus Grande Cuvée – Pic-saint-loup 2018
Pioneer and visionary, the Orliac family has made this property a benchmark in the region. The plots at altitude, ideally cool, deliver juicy grapes with good acidity, which precise aging enhances. Beautiful aromas of blackcurrant, bay leaf, white pepper and menthol. 24 €
Château d’Or et de Gueules La Bolida – Costières-de-nîmes 2017 organic
In their estate on the right bank of the Rhône, Diane de Puymorin and Mathieu Chatain produce two beautiful vintages of terroir and commitment. This blends 90% old Mourvèdre (90 years old) and Grenache. An inky wine, amazing with its powerful and unctuous mouth where black fruits and liquorice exhale. €26.50
Plaimont La Madeleine – Saint-mont 2017
The excellent Gers cooperative cellar operates some 1,250 hectares, which stretch from the foothills of the Pyrenees to the hills of Gascony. The grapes of the blend (tannat, cabernet-sauvignon and pinenc) come from a plot more than a hundred years old which gives its name to the cuvée. Fruity and spicy notes. 31 €
Château Ormes de Pez – Saint-Estèphe 2018
In the bosom of the Cazes family for ages, this beautiful property, a pioneer in wine tourism in the Médoc, offers wines of fine craftsmanship. An elegant cru, of which this vintage underlines the rich tannic structure and offers intense aromas of red and black fruits. Licorice finish. 35 €
Château des Laurets Baron Edmond Plot selection – Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion 2016
At the foot of the unique octagonal central tower of the chateau built around 1860, 40 hectares of vines run along the slopes facing south. Four of them, which bring together the oldest vines of Merlot, are dedicated to this demanding plot selection. The aromas of very ripe black fruits (black cherry, blueberry) flirt with liquorice and cocoa. €47.50
The Cross Ducru-Beaucaillou – Saint-Julien 2018
An original expression of the terroirs of the second classified growth from which it comes, this plot cuvée shines with the silkiness of its material. A remarkably digestible and fresh wine. Its intense carmine color announces the notes of ripe black fruits. A perfect introduction to the Borie label! 49 €
Château de Pibarnon – Red Bandol 2011
This splendid vineyard clinging to its terraces above the Mediterranean is a benchmark for the coastal appellation. The high proportion of limestone in the soil gives the wines a rare minerality and freshness. The incredible density of the fruitiness perfectly expresses the breed of Mourvèdre. 52 €
Christophe Pichon Rozier – Côte-Rôtie 2018
This talented winemaker is now one of the references of the appellations of the right bank of the Rhône. This plot selection gives the measure. 10% Viognier gives freshness and velvety to this fleshy wine. Violet, raspberry, liquorice and cocoa form a tasty cocktail. Already ready to drink (decant). 54 €
Philippe Pacalet – Gevrey Chambertin 2018
Follower of an aesthetic trade, Marcel Lapierre’s nephew has made a name for himself in Burgundy by producing wines of boundless precision and complexity for twenty years. Its vinifications and expert aging produce dazzling expressions of terroir, as this nugget from the Côte de Nuits illustrates. 66 €
Albert Bichot Sorbets – Morey-saint-denis 2018
The astonishing house of Beaune honors this Premier Cru from the Côte de Nuits. The vintage marvelously expresses the unique aromatic potential of the great Pinot Noir. Morello cherries, leather, spices, gamey touches: no false note in this wine which ends with a full and elegant finish. 68 €
Château Fonplégade – Saint-Émilion grand cru classé 2016 organic
Denise and Stephen Adams’ magnificent property was certified organic in 2013 and biodynamic last year. The vintage, where Merlot dominates (90%), benefited from ideal climatic conditions. Precision work in the cellar and aging in barrels and egg-shaped vats give it an aromatic palette of great complexity. 79 €
Real organoleptic traps, soft or pressed cheeses shoot red wines: whites, beers and ciders, on the other hand, know how to stand up to them. On the sweet side, nothing better than the fresh effervescence of a champagne to marry in perfect harmony with sugar (see our selection). Special mention to natural sweet wines (VDN) and sweet wines which magnify both marbled cheeses and chocolate if it is not very sweet.
Clos Cancaillau The Last Square – Sweet Jurançon 2015
A discovery by Lionel Osmin, merchant in love with the South-West and its wines. Its name evokes the small plot of vines which waits until November to be harvested, just before the grapes completely wither. The magic of passerillage, of which Jurançon is Eden. Beneath the fresh aromas of pink grapefruit and white peach, white truffle and caramel emerge. Captivating. €15.90
More Friendly Charles Dupuy – Maury
Draped in its deep purple color, this vintage red with tannins smoothed by patient aging holds the keys to paradise for the taste buds. Its aromas of black truffle, stewed blackcurrant and blueberry, spices (white pepper) and cocoa illustrate all the magic of the great natural sweet wines of Roussillon. 35 €
Hugel family Late harvest – Alsace Gewurztraminer 2010
This line of Riquewihr winegrowers, since 1639, has become a master in the art of vinification of overripe grapes. Masterful demonstration with this nectar from old vines located in the heart of the Sporen grand cru. On the palate, exotic fruits (mango, citron, lychee), floral accents (rose, jasmine) and spices (cardamon) stir in a refined aromatic whirlwind. Addictive ! €42.50
Chateau Guiraud – Sauternes 2009
A magnificent vintage for this Premier Cru Classé of Sauternes, managed biodynamically for a long time by the excellent Xavier Planty. The new owner should follow in the footsteps of the success of the previous team while developing wine tourism. An ample and soft mouth, a sparkling substance, intense aromas (apricot, pink grapefruit, candied lemon) and an exquisite freshness make this wine a refined dessert all by itself. 60 €
Cave de Tain Vin de Paille – White Hermitage 2001
A rarity. Produced only in great years, from Marsanne grapes (and a few grains of Roussanne), this nectar comes from a single plot, in the place called Les Beaumes. Wonderful aromatic palette: quince, hazelnut, toasted brioche, dried fruit (apricot, grape…). Very large guard. 124 €
