Buvez du Vin Naturel de Jeff Coutelou!

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It's Coutelou time! Jean-Francois "Jeff" Coutelou has been producing some of the most delicious and vibrant natural wines coming from the Languedoc and we couldn't be happier about the 2021 wines that have just arrived in New York. The estate has been in the family for four generations, organic since 1987, and selling to the local co-op until 1996, when the Mas Coutelou project was born. French locals and some lucky folks around the world have all been drinking better since then!

Fight Climate Change: drink the natural wines of 
Jeff Coutelou!

Prior to 1987 the winery had 20ha (~50 acres) of conventionally farmed vines and the wines, according to Jeff, were rigid, heavily extracted, and forced. Beginning that year they decided to work without chemicals and to treat their vines with organic remedies only when necessary.

Today the estate is a bit less than 13 hectares (~32 acres) comprised of separate parcels of traditional Languedoc varieties and some long forgotten selection massale cépages on clay and limestone. In places where vines were too compromised by conventional farming, there are now a bevy of olive trees, shurbs, and protective hedges. All of the work is done manually, with careful attention to biodiversity and reducing impact on local eco-systems. The cellar work is equally thoughtful. His vinification methods and vessels vary depending on variety and vintage in order to promote the purest expression of each; but he always uses indigenous yeasts and never adds SO2 (even for his sweet wines).

Today's offer is a sampling of some of the hits of 2021, exhibiting the hallmarks of the Coutelou style: Real deal Languedoc authenticity, vibrant, lifted acidity, rustic garrigue-driven flavors, and always a soft elegance that one could argue is often missing from some of the contrived natural wines hitting the market as of late. These are what some would call "real wines" or "living wines." Do they have cute labels and fit the natural wine vibe? for sure, but more importantly they speak of a place, and excite the palate with intriguing aromatics, lovely concentration and balance.

"Double Rainbow!" - cheers, Jeff!

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Mas Coutelou 2021 Vin de France Macabeu

Macabeu is one of the more fascinating of the Languedoc grape varieties, found in Spanish Catalunya as well as along the Mediterranean coast of France (and known as Viura in Rioja). Made well, it has beautiful density, precise mineral edge and ideal weight for fans of fuller bodied whites. It can easily end up flabby and flat, perhaps because it is not particularly high in acidity. Jeff Coutelou has been producing compelling Macabeu wines for many years, and the 2021 is a great example of really good Macabeu! Some density in the mid-palate, with more acidity than previous vintages, thanks to the cooler 2021 vintage. Highly recommended for fans of southern French whites. -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $35.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Mas Coutelou 2021 VDF Ploutelou

This 'Vin rigoglou*' from Jeff Coutelou is his homage to Ploussard from the Jura. Addictively tasty, fun and quite honestly very well executed. You kind of nailed it Jeff! A blend Aramon, Cinsault, Grenache and Clairette, the latter being a white grape that helps give freshness and zip. It's got some grit, lots of high toned energy and really does remind us of Ploussard! If you get this wine, you will regret only getting one bottle. We already regret only getting 2 cases from Camille Riviere, Jeff's US importer.

*A vin rigoglou is not yet officially a thing, even with the cool kids. It is clearly suggesting that it's a joke wine that is very easy to drink, combining 'rigole' - to joke, with 'glou-glou' which is the French term for a wine (usually a natural wine) that you can easily drink (onomatopoeia for 'gulp gulp')

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $26.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Mas Coutelou 2021 VDF Matubu

Matabu is a relatively new cuvée for Jeff, made from young vines of Cinsault blended with Grenache and Syrah. Maceration is for 3 days, so the goal is clearly to make a graceful and balanced red. Jeff does recommend on the bottle "à boire tranquillement, sinon ça devient vite n'importe quoi," suggesting that we should drink tranquilly, otherwise it can quickly turn into nonsense. Perhaps if we drink it too fast we might end up trying to recreate the scene from the label. We will add a disclaimer: "Do not attempt this at home!" Matabu is overall a very tasty, light-medium bodied red. To me it's a welcome addition to the Coutelou family of wines, surprising and exciting the palate in a not-so-Languedoc way, but still showing off it's origin with spice and subtle tannins. Jeff's preference for short maceration over pure carbonic still favors a fresh style but preserves the identity of the grapes and the region.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $26.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Mas Coutelou 2021 VDF Couleurs Reunies

Couleurs Reunies is a special cuvée from natural wine legend, Jeff Coutelou, made from 20-plus grapes, including many obscure, heat-resistant varieties. Listed on the bottle are: Terret Noir & Blanc, Castets, Morastel, and Reveyrenc Gris, but I believe there are more varieties that are part of the blend. With global warming constantly threatening the future of grape growing, especially in parts of the vine growing world that are already warm, this project is extremely important, and it so happens that the wine is delicious too! Medium bodied, with nice acidity lent by white and grey varieties in the blend. Really nice freshness and sublte grip. Bravo Jeff!  -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $28.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Mas Coutelou 2021 VDF Classe (in a Glass)

One of Jeff's classic and iconic reds, Classe aka "A touch of class in a glass" usually features Syrah and Grenache as the major players. In 2021 the blend is Syrah, Carignan and Grenache. Grapes are destemmed and see a more traditional maceration time, most likely around 2 weeks. The result is a classic (ok it IS classy too), dark, silky red with lovely balance and elegance. There is rusticity here, with notes of ripe blackberry, red currant and fig, and medium tannins. As with many of Jeff's 2021 wines, there is also a level of lift and freshness that makes it very 'drinkable.' Highly recommended for fans of Jeff Coutelou, natural wine, or darn good, authentic Languedoc wines.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $27.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur