call "terroir" in French.
They reflect what the winemaker thinks is the best expression of the grape, the soil, and the vintage.
Biodynamic wines tend to change a lot from year to year and evolve over time, unlike conventional wines. They have a personality and a lot of character.
These wines are made from organic grapes and a minimal use of additives or cosmetics in the winemaking process. Typically, half the amount of sulfites is used.
The biodynamic wines we carry are Clos des Quarterons, Domaine Lionnet, and Domaine du Faucon Doré.
Now, natural wines. Until recently (2012 in France), the organic certification only applied to farming and was surprisingly omitted for winemaking. The grapes were organic, but not the wines. That is because in conventional winemaking, over 100 additives are permitted. They act as cosmetics to enhance, stabilize, hide defaults, and make the wine seem flawless, trendy, and even palatable.
Sorbic acid. Citric acid. Tartaric acid. Gum Arabic. Protein. Albumin. Casein. Sulfur Dioxide. Caron Dioxide. Fish glue. Bentonite Yeasts. Sugar, Colorants. Alcohol. The list goes on.
It is sad because you can actually make wine with rotten grapes, if you use the maximum allowed amount of sulfite.
The producers we work with believe that wine is actually made in the vineyard. You grow healthy grapes. You pick them manually at optimum ripeness. Then the winemaking process becomes very straightforward.
A natural wine theoretically contains only grape. 100% natural. 100% pleasure.
It is very rare to encounter natural wine. I think it's less than 2% of production. It is more difficult to transport. That is another reason we use reefer trucks, reefer containers, and refrigerated warehouses. We want to keep the wine fresh, end to end.
Natural wines, like Marcel Richaud, are wonderfully pure and digestible. It's worth trying if you ask me.
What is your Favourite Wine?
I could drink Champagne every day! I recently had a Montlouis which made a very good impression on me.
If I have to pick only one, I think it'd be the Domaine Martin "Cuvée Yves Martin" 2011. It is a micro prestige cuvée, made entirely of Syrah. It is dark in colour, rich in aromas of kirsch, full bodied and tannic, but with a lot of finesse. I love it!
The domaine produces a very small quantity, around 600 bottles every year. Every time I get to drink a bottle, it makes me feel privileged and lucky to be part of the happy few to get their hands on one of these rare wines.
Eiffel Markets offers a curated list of champagne and rosé, white, and red wines from boutique French winemakers.
Wine information can be found on What Therapy, where you can also place your orders. Island-wide delivery available in Singapore - free for orders above S$250; otherwise a S$20 fee.
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