6/27/26 - 

Introducing Les Chemins de L'Arkose (Auvergne) along with returning favorites from Céline Perrin (Ladoix), and Thierry Navarre (Languedoc).

We're very happy to have new shipments from Thierry Navarre and Celine Perrin and we're very proud to introduce the unique and delicious wines of Les Chemins de l'Arkose, from the fascinating volcanic terroirs of the Auvergne! 

Les Chemins de L'Arkose, Auvergne
One of the most exciting tastings of last winter's trip to France was with Yvan Bernard of Les Chemins de L'Arkose, based in Montpeyroux, south of Clermont-Ferrand in the volcanic hills of the Auvergne. Certified organic and biodynamic, the estate grows primarily Gamay d'Auvergne and Chardonnay, with smaller quantities of Gamay from Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Syrah, on varied terroirs of granite, limestone, basalt and volcanic ash. The unique terroirs, the altitude (450 - 500 meters), the hot, dry climate and the great farming produce very distinctive wines with unique mineral flavors and textures. (The estate is featured in the RVF Guide Vert 2026)

"Winemaking: The grapes are harvested by hand, in 25 kg crates. The wines ferment with their indigenous yeasts; we do not use sulfur during vinification. Depending on the style of the cuvée, the grapes are destemmed or not. Maceration lasts between 15 and 25 days, and up to two months for the longest. The wines are then aged either in tanks, oak barrels, or stoneware amphorae. At the end of the aging process, we decide, based on tasting, whether or not to filter the wines and whether to add a minimal dose of sulfites before bottling"  - Yvan Bernard

From the light and finely-grained Corent Rosé to the age-worthy 2022 "Arkose," these are wines of superb texture and freshness that will drink beautifully this summer, and perhaps encourage you to venture far off the beaten path to the ancient volcanos of the Auvergne...

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Domaine Celine Perrin, Ladoix

We're very happy to offer a new shipment from Domaine Céline Perrin in Ladoix, which converted to organic agriculture in 2003 and received Ecocert certification in 2008. Of course the Bourgogne Rouge and Hautes-Cotes de Nuits are sensational values, but don't overlook the outstanding Ladoix 1er Crus - "Les Grechons" in white and "Les Joyeuses" in red, both delicious as young wines, best after 5 to 10 years of aging.

"Our viticulture is based on respect for the soil and the rhythm of the seasons, letting nature and the terroir express themselves. In the vineyard weed control is done mechanically (with a blade along the base of the vine) as well as manually with hoes. Our wines taste very little of new oak, as we prefer the taste of wine to the taste of wood! The 'regional' wines, Aligoté and Bourgogne, age in barrels averaging 5 - 7 years old. The others age in barrels averaging 3 - 5 years of age, with about 5% new, as we buy a few new barrels each year as we retire the old ones."

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Domaine Thierry Navarre, Saint-Chinian

It's been many years since we last visited Thierry in his beautiful corner of the Languedoc, in Roquebrun - last winter he seemed as youthful as ever and the wines were as joyful and distinctive as ever. The 2024 Ribeyrenc is ultra-light and delicately perfumed. 2025 is a sensational vintage for the Vin D'Oeillades - low alcohol but with beautifully complex and sappy fruit, just a perfect summer red! The two Saint-Chinians, "Le Laouzil" and "Cuvée Olivier" offer superb dark and densely fruited pleasure. There seems to be a growing number of Terret lovers out there and Thierry's 2025 Vin de France Terret is a great example, light and beautifully perfumed, we have only 4 cases! And of course the 2025 Lignières Blanc, made with Ribeyrenc Blanc, Grenache Gris and Clairette du Languedoc is wonderfully different and delicious!

This brings us to Thierry's Vin de Grenache - a local tradition made with "raisins passerillés," very oxidative, sweet, complex and totally unique - we have 24 bottles less 2 for me....

-David Lillie

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