New and Natural: La Vrille et le Papillon and Le Jonc Blanc!

6/18/17 -

We're thrilled to introduce the natural wines of La Vrille et le Papillon in the Ardeche. A brother and sister team, Meyrl and Géraldinge Crozier started La Vrille et le Papillon in 2012 and now have 5 hectares of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Grenache and Ugni Blanc tended in organic agriculture. They grew up with grandparents on both sides of their family who were vignerons and farmers, so their connection to vine growing and agriculture has deep roots in the Ardeche. Meryl began his journey working at Domaine du Mazel with Gérald and Jocelyne Oustric when he was 18. He went on to study in oenology in Montpelier, and then returned home, where he was joined by his sister, Géraldine.

Vineyard work has been without herbicides or pesticides since the beginning, and they started making tisanes and using biodynamic preparations in 2013. The vinifications are the most natural possible, with wild yeasts and little or no sulfur added and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. The wines are wonderfully pure and delicate while possessing lovely density and length - they are remarkably refreshing and are perfect wines for a summer evening or for light meals and charcuterie throughout the year. The Fées Papillon rosé, a direct press Syrah, is delicate and light, a perfect summer quaffer. Caprice du Chameau, their Viognier, is perhaps the most fascinating and complex of our offering, with a constantly evolving nose and a beautiful opaque hue in the glass. It's an interesting and unique expression of Viognier that is not to be missed. The Z Rouge blends Syrah and Merlot to great effect, creating a silky and smile-inducing full bodied red, and the Chapeau Melon (a steal at $12.49!) gives us a earthy and dark Merlot, which begs for some meat or roasted veggies. (Note: Total SO2 levels of all the La Vrille et le Papillon wines are under 10mg/liter indicating zero or minimal added sulfur)

Also just arrived is a shipment of gorgeous natural wines from our new friends Franck Pascal and Isabelle Carle at le Jonc Blanc in Bergerac. The estate is located about 15 miles east of Saint-Emilion on a unique outcropping of limestones with shallow topsoils. The vineyard dates back to the 1500's and was listed in the first edition of Ferret in 1903. The reds are made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot grown on the shallow calcaire soils, while Sauvignon Blanc and Semilon for the whites are grown on slightly deeper, cooler soils. Of particular note are a band of "marnes a ostrea," a limestone conglomerte with seashells, where the Merlot for the "Pure T" is grown,  and a parcel  of "calcaires a asteries," a marine limestone also found in Saint-Emilion, primarily for Malbec. The estate is certified organic and biodynamic and does fantastic vineyard work, including  grains planted between the vines and flowering bushes throughout for a diverse flora and fauna. Their natural work continues in the cellar with wild yeast fermentations, zero or minimal added sulfur and aging in cuve inox or foudres by Taransaud or Stockinger. Franck and Isabelle are creating beautiful natural wines that have become enormous favorites of the Chambers Street staff - we urge you to try these delicious, soulful wines that offer extraordinary quality and value. (NOTE: This past April the estate lost 90% of their crop due to a disastrous frost. CSW will be adding one euro to the price of each bottle we purchase in upcoming shipments to help defray their loss.)