Introducing the Natural Wines of Domaine de la Sarbèche (Saint-Péray & Saint-Joseph) and Monts et Merveilles (Minervois)!

8/14/19 -

Cyril Milochevitch, Domaine de la Sarbeche  While traveling with Pascaline Lepeltier, MS, of Racines NY last winter, we were fortunate to taste with the young Cyril Milochevitch of Domaine de la Sarbèche at a natural wine show near Montpellier. We tasted his 2017 Vin de Pays Syrah, from vines in Saint-Peray, the 2016 Saint-Peray from the lieu-dit "Fauterie" and the 2016 Saint-Joseph from "Les Rivoires" in Tournon, an excellent parcel which also contributes to the Pierre Gonon Saint-Joseph. While all three wines showed very well, we were particularly impressed with the 2016 Saint-Joseph, vinified with zero additives, which was dense, deep and well structured - a natural wine from great terroir that should show beautifully after five to ten years of cellaring. Cyril's first vintage was 2014 from two hectares of organic vines in Saint-Peray, adding the small parcels of Syrah in Saint Peray and Saint Joseph in 2015, which are now in conversion to organic farming. Cyril is committed to organic agriculture and vinifications with zero or minimal SO2, both for the health of the consumer and for the improved quality of the wine. We are excited to get started with this talented young vigneron, definitely on the right path and already producing superb wines - we hope you will try them! (Taste them at Racines NY, Tuesday, August 27, 6pm - 10pm along with the natural Languedoc wines of Monts et Merveilles - go to racinesny.com to reserve.)

Laure Boussu and Julien Audard, Domaine Monts et Merveilles  About 35 years ago my wife and I rented a farmhouse with the kids, perched high on the slopes of the Montagnes Noire above La Livinière in the Minervois – we spent a delightful two weeks exploring the region and discovering its food and wines. One thing we noticed was the difference between the somewhat rustic wines on the lower terrain east of Carcasonne (where most AOC Minervois is produced) and the more complex and elegant wines both from the schist soils of the Montagnes Noire and from the limestone soils of the high ground around La Livinière and the high plateau above the town of Minerve. So much for geography, but it’s a fascinating region with distinctive wines and I was very happy to return for our visit to Monts et Merveilles last January. Laure Boussu and Julien Audard created the domaine in 2012 with 4 hectares of vines mostly on schist and limestone in the Montagnes Noires and a small parcel on the limestone “cause” a bit to the north. The vines are situated in wild and pristine high mountain countryside. The farming here has been organic and Biodynamic from the start, without using copper (copper sulfate, the primary organic treatment for mildew) and vinification and bottling is with zero or minimal SO2 added. To protect the life of the soil, the vineyards are plowed as little as possible. The estate is practicing superb farming and meticulous natural vinifications, which was clear to us upon tasting the wines with Julien last winter. The wines possess beautiful purity and focus of fruit as well as a wonderful brightness and balance – we are thrilled to present these lovely, affordable natural wines and we congratulate Laure and Julien for their intelligent and conscientious work in the vines and the cellar!