Harvesting on the volcano at Les Vins de la Madone

Beautiful Biodynamic Wines from Les Vins de la Madone and Le Jonc Blanc!

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Gilles Bonnefoy at "Les Vins de la Madone" and Franck Pascal & Isabelle Carles at "Le Jonc Blanc" produce distinctive, delicious and soulful wines that offer superb originality and quality - the fact that they're inexpensive should not be a deterrent to your enjoyment of these unique wines!

Gilles Bonnefoy -  "Les Vins de la Madone" in the Côtes du Forez!

We sometimes use the word "vibrant' when discussing the fruit and mineral flavors of wines from the Loire Valley and that is certainly the case with "Les Vins de la Madone," from Biodynamic farming on the estate's high-altitude parcels of granit and basalt soils. Gilles' great farming achieves maximum ripeness giving wildly delicious red and black fruits to the wines, combined with a wonderfully refreshing acidity and a unique mineral character  - "vibrant" describes them well!  Please note: Gilles' wines are very popular in France - the 2022 vintage was tightly allocated so this will be our only offer until next year. The 2022s offer a lovely combination of ripeness and freshness and are not to be missed!

History and Geography: The estate began in 1997 with the rental of a few plots of old vines and has grown to 11 hectares, mostly on and around the volcano de la Madone near Montbrison, entirely certified organic and Biodynamic (Demeter). To situate the domain, we can follow the Loire upstream to Orleans where it makes a broad trun to the south, flowing past Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. At Nevers, the river splits, with the Allier continuing due south and the Loire heading further east before turning south again to Roanne and then Montbrison, with the hills and ancient volcanoes of the Monts du Forez on the west and the Monts du Lyonnais to the east. (Here we are in the Loire Department, officially, which also contains much of the vineyards of Condrieu and northern Saint-Joseph!)

Gilles Bonnefoy

The Terroir: The reds are bottled from different soils  on and around the volcano of the Madone, which include "Granit du Forez," "Migmatites de Montbrison" - a granit which contains migmatite with clay and mica, and basalt, a volcanic rock here containing iron and magnesium.

The Grapes: The only red permitted in the AOC Côtes du Forez is the Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc, but Gilles also has old varieties of Gamay such as Gamay de Bouze, Gamay de Chaudenay and Gamaret. The whites are from Roussanne (50% is massale selection from Quenard in Savoie), and from Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon blanc.

The Cellar:  The grapes are harvested by hand into small crates, with very low yields, and are destemmed or fermented whole-cluster depending on the cuvee. No SO2 is added and fermentations are with native yeasts, aging is usually in cuve inox with a small addition of SO2 before bottling.

These wines are incredibly delicious! They are a testament to the superb  Biodynamic farming and natural winemaking of Gilles Bonnefoy and his team - serve cool this summer for some vibrant refreshment! (Any lover of Beaujolais will particulaarly enjoy the sensational reds in today's offer!)

Vines at Le Jonc Blanc

Franck Pascal & Isabelle Carles - "Le Jonc Blanc" in Bergerac

East of Bordeaux and just above the Dordogne river, we find the hamlet of Vélines and the unique limestone outcroppings of Le Jonc Blanc. Here Isabelle Carles and Franck Pascal arrived in 1999 to pursue their new life as vigneron(ne)s. Enormously respected among the natural wine movement in France, Le Jonc Blanc produces unique wines of great character that are a joy to drink. The wines of Le Jonc Blanc retain the magic and poetry of a natural product, from grapes in certified organic and Biodynamic farming, fermented naturally and vinified and bottled with zero or minimal added sulfur. These are pure, vibrant, living wines - as Franck says "there must be a little chaos in the wine to vibrate our emotions!" 

Arriving next week:

The delicious 2021 "Fleur" made from from 45% old-vine Semillon (70+ years old), Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. This showed beautifully at our tasting with Isabelle last winter - similar to a white Bordeaux but with layers of complexity and mineral flavors rarely found in a wine at this price. The "2020 Fruit," made from Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec also showed beautifully last winter - this gorgeous wine, made with zero added SO2, will be perfect with griiled foods this summer, particularly for those wishing to drink more naturally!

Isabelle and Franck

The PURE Cuvées: Each of these cuvées is made from a single plot, a single grape variety, without any input, just grapes! The reds are picked by hand only, foot tread, no use of pumps. After vinification with no additves, the wines are aged in 18 and 12 hl casks (Taransaud and Stockinger) depending on the volume available. The aging is at least two years for the reds and 18 months for the whites. Each wine offered today is a brilliant natural product, beautifully expressing the unique limestone terroirs - we particularly loved the 2020 Pure S Semillon when tasted last winter, but all three are highly recommended!

The wines are in our warehouse, please allow until Tuesday 6/20 for pickup/shipping. 10% case/mixed case discount applies.

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 IGP Urfé Sauvignons Gris/Blanc Volcan

 The Bonnefoy 2022 "Sauvignons" is 60% Sauvignon Gris and 40% Sauvignon Blanc (massale selection) grown in basalt soils on the east face of the volcano of Purchon. Farming is certified organic and Biodynamic, all harvests are by hand, and Gilles Bonnefoy has a low-intervention approach in the cellar, where he eschews additives or new oak. The nose shows flinty stone and ripe citrus notes that continue on the palate,  which shows further notes of gooseberries and a slight tropicality. There's nice density and length here, making it a quite serious expression of Sauvignon, distinguished by its long and dense mineral finish. A lovely wine that should definitely not be served too cold: this is Sauvignon with real substance.

  • white
  • 7 in stock
  • $20.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 IGP Urfé Roussanne de Madone

The beautiful Roussanne from Gilles Bonnefoy is from 20+ year-old vines (partly massale selection from Quenard in Savoie) grown on the steep south face of the volcano of Purchon.  Bonnefoy  farms these young vines carefully, keeping yields  very low to promote concentration and  harvesting late (Roussanne takes a long time to ripen fully) and by hand. Native yeast fermentation takes place in used barrels; the wine ages in the same.  In the glass, the Roussanne  is pale and shows  a very expressive nose of white flowers, green herbs, and a touch of orchard fruits. Given the freshness of the nose, the palate is surprisingly and lusciously dense and complex, with pear, peach, citrus and herbal notes as well as long and broad minerality. A great expression of Roussanne on unique Volcanic terroir.   Only 3000 bottles produced.

  • white
  • 11 in stock
  • $26.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 Côtes du Forez Rosé Gamay sur Volcan

The delicious 2022 Gilles Bonnefoy Rosé is made from Gamay grown in both volcanic and clay/granit soils in the Côtes du Forez  (upper Loire, east and a bit south of Lyon).  The grapes are hand-harvested and ferment with wild yeasts, half is rosé de saigné, half is direct press. The wine shows a bright pink color and pretty floral aromas of raspberry and strawberry, with hints of citrus, spice and white peach. The palate is light and crisp but with nice density and saline minerals under the red fruits, finishing with good length of stone, citrus and berry fruits. Serve as a refreshing aperitif or with salads, grilled meats, seafood and goat cheeses. This should open up nicely over the summer and drink well through 2024. lovely wine and a great value!   David Lillie

  • rosé
  • 14 in stock
  • $17.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 Côtes du Forez "La Madone"

The Gilles Bonnefoy "Gamay sur Vulcan" is from 15 to 30 year-old vines, 50% on basalt soils, 50% on granit/clay soils on the slopes of an ancient volcano. Hand harvested with low yields, the grapes are de-stemmed and undergo a short fermentation with native yeasts. The wine is lightly filtered and bottled with minimal SO2. The color is a warm purple, with lighter violet edges. Nose is plush red and black berries, a minerally smoke, black tea, with an airy, grassy aroma. Palate has tart cherries and plums, a flash of limestone, and a hint of rich, woodsy earth develops on a long, engaging finish. The wine's structure, crisp but juicy, makes it incredibly drinkable. Complex and fresh, serve with a slight chill, and drink this summer.

  • red
  • 6 in stock
  • $17.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 Côtes du Forez "Dacite"

The 2022 Bonnefoy "Dacite" is from 100% clay-granitic soil of the GRANO-DIORITE A DACITE type. This granite, unique in our region, comes from a block of rock from the Monts du Forez, which peaked in the primary era at more than 8,000 meters. A rare phenomenon, this DACITE contains calcium. This rock erodes, giving infertile, grainy soils with low clay content for the region (about 25%)." This lovely wine shows very floral, raspberry and minty aromas with a velvety, supple palate of pretty berry fruits. Serve this quite cool this summer, in the style of a delicious old-fashioned Beaujolais...

  • red
  • 14 in stock
  • $18.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 Côtes du Forez "Migmatite"

The 2022 Cote du Forez "Migmatite" from Gilles Bonnefoy at Les Vins de la Madone is a extraordinary Gamay from 50 year-old vines in a unique parcel of granite/clay soils very rich in mica. The grapes are hand-harvested with yields of only 25 hl/ha,  followed by whole cluster fermentation with native yeasts. Aging is in cuve inox, with a light filtration and the wine is bottled with minimal SO2, per Demeter Biodynamic rules.  The wine shows a deep black/purple color with elegant aromas of ripe black fruits, very floral and fresh. The palate is fabulously deep, dense and velvety with lush black fruits above a very present saline mineral character that lifts the vibrant black fruits in the long refreshing finish. Just a beautiful wine and perfect with grilled foods this summer, charcuterie  and cheeses or just sipped cool by itself. This is the most "serious" of Gilles' wines to be offered this year -  put a few in the cellar as the wine should develop nicely over the next 3 to 5 years. Highly recommemded!

  • red
  • 3 in stock
  • $23.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Bonnefoy (La Madone) 2022 Côtes du Forez Mémoires de Madone VV

The 2022 Gilles Bonnefoy "Memoire de Madone" is made from old vines of a local Gamay grown on volcanic soils (basalt) in the Côtes de Forez (upper Loire east and a bit south of Lyon). The grapes are harvested by hand, partially de-stemmed and undergo a 15-day fermentation with wild yeasts. The wine shows a bright black/purple color with deep aromas of blackberry and black currant with hints of violet, stone and citrus. The palate is dense but light on its feet with a firm backbone of mineral flavors and earthy acidity under the blackberry and black raspberry fruit, with herbal and citrus notes. This is the most dense and structured of Bonnefoy's Gamays, and will benefit from decanting or a few hours aeration, serve with grilled pork, coq au vin, full-flavored cheeses. David Lillie

  • red
  • 6 in stock
  • $25.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Jonc Blanc 2020 Vin de France Fruit

The delicious 2020 Jonc Blanc "Fruit" is a blend of  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec from a parcel on limestone of Castillon in biodynamic farming with legumes, cereals and pollinators between the vnes. There is a cool pre-fermentation maceration, then fermentation with wild yeasts for 30 days, followed by 18 months in cuve and old foudre, bottled unfined, unfiltered with zero added SO2. Pure Juice!. Red/black color with bright rim.  The wine shows lovely deep aromas of earth and violet with black raspberry, red currant, cassis, plum, licorice and spice.  One really senses the terroir. The palate is full and supple with bright acidity, earth and mineral flavors under the vibrant, dark fruit. This is simply delicious, especially for those who love natural wines. (As with most zero sulfur wines, it's best consumed on the day opened) To call it a wine of terroir is a huge understatement!  Serve cool and enjoy over the next three years with charcuterie, burgers, grilled chicken and pork. David Lillie

  • red
  • 9 in stock
  • $18.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Jonc Blanc 2019 Vin de France Pure M Malbec

The 2019 Pure M is a beautiful natural wine with zero added SO2, 100% Malbec from a small parcel in biodynamic farming on "Calcaires a Asteries" typical of the plateau of Saint-Emilion. Two year élevage in 1200 liter Taransaud foudre without fining, filtration or SO2, 1600 bottles produced.  The wine shows complex, pure, lush aromas of cassis, blackberry and prune with hints of tobacco, spice and earth. The palate is silky and bright with ripe cassis, blackberry and blueberry fruit backed by refreshing acidity. Mineral and ripe berry fruit flavors linger in the long finish.  Serve this cool with any grilled meats, and it's balanced enough for veggies and lighter meat dishes as well. Just delicious and highly recommended! David Lillie

  • red
  • 12 in stock
  • $29.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur

Jonc Blanc 2020 Vin de France Pure S Semillon

For lovers of natural, skin contact wines - “PURE S” : 100% Semillon. Boulbènes terroir on a limestone base: a mixture of limestone sands and silts with a little clay. Aging in 18hl Stockinger casks for 2 years, zero additives. Production : 2400 bottles. Tasting: the boulbènes on limestone of the plateau of Vélines are illustrated by very marked salty notes and give the wine a great minerality. A white wine that transcends the natural power of Semillon and expresses itself with fantastic length. To decant imperatively!" Yes, the wine is a bit orange, showing a deep bronze/gold color. Floral, herbal, roasted citrus, exotic fruit and apricot notes. The palate shows skin tannin, ripe melon, apricot, almond and citrus peel  with intense mineral flavors and firm acidity - just a fabulous natural wine in the 2020 vintage! Zero sulfur added. David Lillie

  • white
  • 12 in stock
  • $34.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • No Sulfur
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Jonc Blanc 2021 Vin de France Fleur

The 2021 Jonc Blanc "Fleur" is a gorgeous and complex wine from 45% old-vine Semillon (70+ years old), Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris from Franck and Isabelle Pascal in Bergerac, Biodynamic farming on limestone with clay and sandy soils,  vinification without additives, aging for 18 months on the lees in cuve inox, bottled with a small addition of SO2, 20mg/l total. The 2021 Fleur is a lovely wine showing very floral aromas of ripe citrus, melon and pear; the palate is ripe, supple and refreshing with ripe white fruits, quite generous and backed with firm acidity and very distinctive saline/mineral flavors in the long finish. Far from the typical varietal Sauvignon, this is a rich complex white of great character that willl acccompany cheeses and white meats and is a delicious aperitif.

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $18.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Jonc Blanc Solera Vin de France Pure M Manseng

Wow, this a superb natural wine - 100% Gros Manseng from three vintages, 2018 - 2020, grown on a clay/limestone terroir (calcaire de Castillon). Elevage in 1800 liter Stockinger foudre. This is a more northern version of this grape of southwest France with aromas of exotic fruit, pineapple and herbs. The palate is vibrant with almond, pear and apricot fruit, and finishes with saline minerals. Zero added SO2, 36 btls for the US, enjoy!

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

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur