Some Recommended Wine Producers

BKWine is independent from all producers. The list of producers presented below is an entirely personal selection of winemakers that we find interesting. And it is not in any way intended to be exhaustive. Many producers that we like a lot and who would deserve to be here are missing because we have not yet written about them. Many others would also deserve to be here but we have not yet had the opportunity to taste (and write about) their wines....

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Corsica

Corsica is making great progress in wine. Quality is still sometimes unpredictable (but where is that not the case?) but you can find plenty of good wines, both white, red and sweet.

Patrimonio, in northern Corsica, is home to many of the best Corsican wines. The chalky soil is good for wine growing, the winds are less strong compared to some other places. There is no co-operative on this part of the island. The 32 wineries share the 450 hectares. You can also find sweet white wines from this part of Corsica but then they are called Muscat du Cap Corse.

Jean-Paul Gentile, Domaine Gentile
AC Patrimonio, 20217 Saint-Florent, ph 04 95 37 01 54

Niellucciu is the dominant grape in Patrimonio. It is a grape variety that is related to the Sangiovese, found in Tuscany, which is sometimes quite evident. The vintage 2002 from Domaine Gentile has exactly the characteristics that I find typical in Corsican wines: full-bodied, with a fair amount of tannin and a hint of “animal” (game, leather…). Domaine Gentile’s white wine is made from Vermentino (called Rolle in Provence) and is dry and refreshing with a contrasting earthy or mineral character. In general, Corsican wines actually have more elegance than one might expect from a district so far south. Perhaps it is the high altitude and the strong winds that moderate the otherwise high temperatures.

Clos Signadore
AC Patrimonio, 20232 Poggio d’Oletta, ph 06 15 18 29 81

A relative newcomer in Patrimonio is Clos Signadore. They made their first vintage in 2001. Eresi 2005, made from 80% Niellucciu and 20% Grenache, is a quaffable, easygoing wine while the cuvée prestige, called simply Clos, with 100% Niellucciu is more typically Corsican with flavours of spices and herbs and even juniper. Quite elegant and very good.

Yves Leccia, Domaine d'E Croce 
AC Patrimonio, 20232 Poggio d’Oletta, ph 04 95 30 72 33

Another (new) recommended producer in Patrimonio is Yves Leccia, making wine on 12 hectares. He makes a very attractive white Vermentino with quite a lot of “fat” (‘gras’ in French, giving the wine a round, soft and full-bodied character) but also a fresh acidity. He uses no oak and he dos not let the wine go through the malolactic fermentation. He makes several red wines, e.g. “Patrimonio 2004” from 90% Niellucciu and 10% Grenache. Here the relation to Sangiovese is very apparent: a certain dryness and aromas of cherry stones, a high acidity and a good body.
(Brief 34)

Provence

Domaine de Triennes, Provence
Route Nationale 560, 83860 Nans-les-Pins, www.triennes.com

Triennes is a property that has attracted quite a lot of attention lately although it carries the quite modest appellation of Vin de Pays du Var. But you should not be fooled by the humble origin – the wines are excellent and interesting and we would be surprised if they were not. The winery was founded by two Burgundy legends: Aubert de Villaine (Domaine de la Romanée Conti), Jacques Seysses (Domaine Dujac in Morey St Denis), together with Michel Macaux. In 1990 they bought a rather run-down property between Aix-en-Provence and Brignoles and gave it the name Triennes, after the name used for a roman wine feast (and perhaps the fact that they were three partners?). They did some replanting with Chardonnay on soil that was similar to Burgundy, Syrah on soil that was more iron and clay rich, and Merlot on a flat but well drained plot that reminded them of St Emilion. Domaine de Triennes now makes very good wines at very affordable prices – the powerful and well structured Cuvée Sainte Auguste, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Les Auréliens from Syrah and Cabernet, and the white Sainte Fleure from Viognier, a full-bodied wine with a fresh acidity and notes of ripe apricot and flowers. (Brief 48)

Château Vannières, Bandol
www.chateauvannieres.com
This beautiful property is in one of the best know appellations by the Mediterranean: Bandol. They have a young and dynamic winemaker, Jean-Philippe Fourney, who is continuing, and enhancing Vannières’ tradition of making excellent, full-bodied Bandol wines that often need some bottle age. Made from the interesting Mourvèdre grape variety. The property covers a total of 33 hectares of vineyards. (Brief 41)

Domaine de La Tour du Bon, Bandol
83330 Le Brûlat du Castellet, tel 04 98 03 66 22
La Tour du Bon is in the small Mediterranean appellation of Bandol. The 17 hectares are beautifully situated at the foot of the hilltop village Le Castellet (and with a view over the sea a clear day!). Lots of sun and vines growing on a soil dominated by clay and limestone gives powerful wines full of individual character. The owner and winemaker, Agnès Henry-Hocquard blends the archetypical Bandol grape Mourvèdre with some Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan. Just Mourvèdre gives wines that are a bit one-dimensional, she says. 14 euro for the 2003 vintage at the winery
(Brief 39)

Languedoc

Cave d’Embres et Castelmaure, Corbières, Languedoc
1360 Embres et Castelmaure, Corbieres, tel.: 04 68 45 91 83

To reach the village of Emres et Castelmaure (yes, that's how its called) you have to follow narrow, winding roads, beautiful and remote and full of game hunters in season… To arrive in the village and find a cooperative that is modern, not to say trendy, is not quite what you expect. but Cave d'Embres et Castelmaure has succeeded in convincing its members (les cooperateurs) that to survive today you have to focus on quality. The wines are very good, starting with the nice and easy-to-drink La Buvette to the more serious la Grande Cuvée and Cuvée N:o 3. The labels are decidedly modern, perhaps designed with younger drinkers in mind, as are the bag-in-boxes. Now they can even boast a brand new architecture designed winery. Some call it "un Guggenheim des Corbières"… (Brief 59)

Ermitage de Pic Saint Loup, Languedoc
34270 Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers

An excellent producer in the beautiful Pic St Loup area a bit north of Montpellier. The Ravaille family owns the property since a few hundred years back. The current generation is the fifth with the tree brothers Jean-Marc, Xavier and Pierre in charge. They have 35 ha with a great variety in soil types giving added complexity to the wines. Two of my favourites are the Cuvée Classique made from grapes grown on red clay and gravel. The wine is concentrated with a bouquet of red berries and garrigue (herbs, thyme, laurel…), and the Cuvée St Agnès, grown on limestone with some rocks, giving a dense, concentrated wine with lots of herbs and minerality and a spicy finish. All their wines are very well structured. (Brief 58)

Mas Champart, Saint-Chinian
Bramefan – Route de Villespassans, Saint-Chinian,

Isabelle and Mathieu Champart is a charming wine maker couple who fell in love with the spectacular scenery in Saint Chinian, one of the appellations in the Languedoc region, a bit to the north of Béziers. They make both red and, more unusual for the region, whites. Their whites have an excellent acidity and freshness in spite of the very hot climate. Their Vin de Pays is made from 100% Viognier with nice fruit and quite aromatic – as it should be. The white Saint Chinian is made from Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc, giving it a complexity and body mixed with a hint of oak aging. They also make excellent reds of course. My favourite is the cuvee Côte d'Arbo, lots of spices in this wine made primarily from Syrah grapes. (Brief 57)

Domaine de la Coste, Coteaux du Languedoc – Saint Christol
Phone 33 (0)4 67 86 02 10 Fax 33(0)4 67 86 07 71, www.la-coste-moynier.fr

Luc was the first to realize the great potential in the soils around Saint-Christol, a terroir just north-east of Montpellier. Luc and Elisabeth Moynier created Domaine de la Coste in 1975. Their grapes grow in poor soil that is difficult to work, filled with stones much like the galets in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. And the vineyard creates some quite rustic wines whereas others are much more elegant. Luc’s and Elisabeth’s favourite grape is Mourvèdre. Wines worth seeking out today before they get pricey (which they are far from today!). (Brief 54)

Château de l’Engarran, Lavérune
www.chateau-engarran.com

The two sisters Constance Rerolle and Diane Losfelt are the third generation of women who manage the vineyard and the beautiful 18th century chateau in Lavérune just outside Montpellier. The family didn’t bottle their own wine until 1978 but has since become one of the better known properties in Languedoc. Elegance as well as body are keywords for their wines, expressed e.g. in the cuvee Quetton Saint Georges made from 80% Syrah with aromas of chocolate, ripe berries and freshly roasted coffee. (Brief 54)

Domaine des Grécaux, Languedoc, Monteyroux
Isabelle and Alain Caujolle-Gazet, 34150 Saint-Jean-de-Fos, tel 04 67 57 38 83

Alain and Isabelle Caujolle-Gazet settled to make wine in Montpeyroux in Languedoc in 1998. Today they have 11 hectares, 7 of which are on very poor soil (and thus good for wine growing) on the Montpeyroux plateau and this is the source of their cuvée Héméra. This is an excellent example of this peculiar Montpeyroux terroir, says Alain. Héméra is made from 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. The style is densely concentrated with typical aromas of Syrah – charcuteri, spices and dark berries. Try it, or any other of the Grécaux wines, if you can find it! (Brief 52)

Château de Lascaux, Vaquières, Coteaux du Languedoc-Pic Saint Loup
www.chateau-lascaux.com

In Pic Saint Loup, a short drive north of Montpellier in the Languedoc region in France, you can find many high quality wine producers. One of those is Ch Lascaux, a family vineyard run by Jean-Benoît Cavalier. The property covers 53 hectares, the soil is, as often in this region, very poor. The well balanced wines are characterised by an aromatic complexity and a refreshing acidity. They make several cuvées, for example the white Pierre d’Argent made from Vermentino, Rousanne and Marsanne. Or the red Les Secrets, made from Syrah and Grenache grapes with very low yield: spicy and full-bodied. (Brief 50)

Mas de Perry, Coteaux du Languedoc
Murles, tel 04 67 84 40 89

Geneviève and Didier Ponson-Nicot and the two children manage this charming family property just north of Montpellier. Stéphanie, the daughter is responsible for the wine making and Olivier, the son, for the vineyards. They make a very good Grenache Blanc-Marsanne cuvée and a very unusual and interesting on 100% Ugni Blanc – late harvest (but it’s a dry wine) and 3 hectolitres per hectare… Mas de Perry is probably a domain that we will hear more of in the future. (Brief 49)

Château Pech Latt, Philippe Mathias, Corbières
11220 Lagrasse, Tel + 33 (0) 4 68 58 11 40

A narrow road from the village Lagrasse in the Corbières leads to Chateau Pech Latt, owned by the Burgundy house Louis Max. The winery and vineyard is manage by the enthusiastic oenolog Philippe Mathias. It’s a big vineyard – 120 ha, 100 of which are planted with vines – all in a single plot, and without any close neighbours. “An advantage”, says Philippe “when you want to run the vineyard organically”, which they do since 1991. 90% of the production goes o export. “Selling Languedoc wines in France is difficult. The French ’drink the label’” Philippe explains, using the expression “buveurs d’etiquettes” – all the worse for the French we can only say. Balance is a central theme for the Philippe, balance in the vineyard, between different plants and animals, and balance in the wine cellar. Pech Latt Cuvée Tradition make up 85% of the production, made from 50% Carignan and some Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. A wine with distinct typicity, deep colour and powerful bouquet, a good structure with quite a healthy dose of ripe tannins and notes of the local garrigue herbs. Other cuvées: Vieille Vignes, dominated by Carignan, and Cuvée Alix that has been aged 16 months in wood. Excellent and good value wines. (Brief 48)

Domaine d’Aupilhac, Sylvain Fadat
34150 Montpeyroux, tel 04 67 96 61 19, www.aupilhac.net

Sylvain Fadat prefers to spend his time in the field. That’s where the important work is done, in his opinion. He’s one of the stars in the Languedoc, with Domaine d’Aupilhac that he created in 1989, north west of Montpellier. At that time, Languedoc still had a low-quality, big-volume reputation and Sylvain became one of the pioneers in on the path towards higher quality. He understood the fantastic potential, there to be discovered, in the vineyards around his home village – Montpeyroux. Today he makes a wide range of wines, both white and red, and all have lots of substance and personality. For example, his cuvées from very old vines of Carignan and Cinsault.   (Brief 47)

Clos Centeilles, Languedoc
34210 Siran, tel 04 68 91 52 18

Daniel and Patricia Domergue consider Cinsault to be the best grape in the whole of Languedoc! And also the most typical. Grenache and Carignan are both newcomers, introduced after the phylloxera crisis, they say. They bought the run down Clos Centeilles in 1990 with 10 hectares of Cinsault, Carigan and Grenache. Already the very first vintage they were impressed by the quality they had from Carignan. Now they make tow Cinsault cuvées, Campagne de Centeilles and Capitelle de Centeilles, as well as one more “traditional” blend on Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache, the Clos Centeilles. Le Carignissime is an original cuvée from 100% Carignan.(Brief 44)

Domaine Piccinini, Minervois-La Livinière, Languedoc
 www.domaine-piccinini.com

Jean-Christophe’s father, Maurice Piccinini, was for many years in charge of the village co-operative in La Livinière and turned it into one of the best in Minervois. He was also a driving force behind Minervois being elevated to AOC status and subsequently La Livinière. The son, J-C, trained as oenologist and wanted from the start to make and bottle his own wines. His wines are today among the “safe bets” for excellent wines from Minervois. Try and find, for example, his Clos Angély, that he makes in both red and white version (or any other of his cuvées for that matter). (Brief 42)

Cellier des Dominicains, Collioure, Roussillon
www.dominicain.com

A quality-oriented co-operative (especially in recent times) in the middle of the very picturesque village of Collioure. The winery is in what was previously a Dominican monastery from the 13th century. They have put in place a system that encourages the growers-cooperatuers to improve the maturation and quality of their grapes. As everyone in this region they do a Vin Doux Naturel (fortified wine) under the Banyuls appellation but they also make some "normal" red cuvees, e.g. the Colline de Matisse (2007 for 7€), a decent, easy-to drink red wine with good freshness, or the Les Culottes (2006, 9.50€), a well made fruity wine with aromas of ripe berries. (Brief 58)

- - Sud-Ouest - -

Vignoble Tour de Verdots, AOC Bergerac
Conne de Labarde

David Fourtout is the winemaker and owner of this excellent winery in Bergerac, a little bit east of Bordeaux. In the recently built winery building he has installed specially designed fermentation tanks to achieve the characters he wants. One floor down, underground, he has the barrel cellar that where you can get a close look at the soil thanks to the naked walls, as well as a curious underground river. He makes arrange of wines from modestly priced every day drinking wines to very ambitious super-cuvées. Don't miss his "Le Vin selon David Fourtout" (The Wine according to DF)!  Watch the interview with David on BKWine TV! (Brief 57)

Château Belingard, Bergerac
Bergerac, 24240 Pomport

Comte Laurent de Bosredon took over this family property in the mid-80s. He had, and has, one target in mind: to raise the quality of, and the consumer interest for, the two appellations Bergerac and Monbazillac. He started practicing the methods developed by the oenologist Denis Dubordieu, researcher in Bordeaux. For example, a few hours skin contact for the white wines and some oak aging on the lees for both the reds and the whites. Or the importance of measuring the phenolic ripeness of the grapes to be able to decide on the best time to harvest. Chateau Belingard was originally best known for its Monbazillac wines but Laurent’s improvements in winemaking and quality have given the dry white wines a more prominent place: fresh, apply, with no or very little oak for Chateau Belingard (“tout court”) or the oak aged Blanche de Bosredon, named after Laurent’s grandmother. And the reds should not be forgotten either! (Brief 43)

- -  Northern Rhône  - -

Domaine Alain Graillot, Crozes-Hermitage
Les Chênes Verts, 26600 Pont de l'Isere, 04 75 84 67 52

Do you like the really character-full, almost caricature style of Syrah – smoky, tarry, charcuteri, freshly ground pepper…? Then you should definitely try the Crozes-hermitage from Alain Graillot. Fabulous wines for Syrah addicts. Alain was part of the revival of the Crozes district some 20 years ago and has since inspired many younger winemakers to move up the quality scale. (Brief 56)

Domaine Vincent Paris, Cornas
Chemin des Peyrouses 07130 Cornas, ph 04 75 40 13 04

Vincent Paris made his first wine in 1997 and was soon mentioned as one of the future young stars in Cornas. Now it is perhaps time to remove future. Vincent’s uncle is the well known producer Robert Michel, maker of some of the finer Cornas wines, so he has some family traditions to build on. He was fortunate to inherit some very old vines, which, together with low yields and a meticulous work in both the vineyard and the winery makes for very full-bodied and concentrated Syrah wines. (Brief 49)

Domain Gilles Robin, Crozes-Hermitage
Les Chassis Sud-Mercurol, Tain l Hermitage, ph +33 809 475 084 328

Gilles Robin made his first vintage of Crozes-Hermitage in 1996. At that time he had to help him his grand father, and when Gilles later created a cuvée prestige he named it after his grandfather: Cuvée Alberic Bouvet. Gilles now has 15 ha in Crozes and a small parcel in Saint Joseph. All Gilles’s wines have a very good expression of the grape variety – Syrah. But he is keen that also the terroirs should be evident in his wines. The best way to do that, he says, is to grow your vines organically, so, no chemical pesticides, and only natural fertilizers. Harvesting is manual. His red Crozes-Hermitage, Le Papillon, comes from a five hectare plot with young vines that he has planted himself. It is peppery and fruity (blackberries, black currants). The 2003 costs 9 euro at the vineyard (if there is still some left). Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Albéric Bouvet is made from old vines, planted by Gilles’s father 45 years ago. The wine has spent 16 months in oak. The bouquet is full of spices – cinnamon, cloves, pepper, liquorice, and the taste is long with a very expressive Syrah character (14 euro). Gilles also makes a very nice white Crozes from Marsanne and Roussanne grapes. (Brief 40)

Domaine Yves Cuilleron, Condrieu, Rhone
Verlieu, RN 86, 42410 Chavanay, ph 04 74 87 02 37

When Yves Cuilleron made his first wine in 1987 not many people knew of Condrieu or Viognier. “I was part of the young generation that was part of the recreation of the northern Rhône valley as a wine district” he says. Today, Yves is one of the big stars in Condrieu. All his wines are of excellent quality, from an aromatic Viognier Vin de Pays for around 11 euro to his different cuvées of Condrieu (around 30 euro). (Brief 38)
There are more pictures in our photo gallery.

Domaine Pierre Gaillard, Condrieu and Saint-Joseph
42520 Malleval, ph 04 74 87 13 10

A short drive away from the river, uphill along winding roads with breathtaking views you will find Domaine Pierre Gaillard. Pierre started his career at Vidal-Fleury (now owned by Guigal) in Ampuis a short distance away. While at Vidal-Fleury he was planning his own wine growing business, bought some land and planted some vines. In 1987 he made his first Saint-Joseph. His property has now reached 20 hectares including Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Côte Rôtie and Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes. Certainly one of the best wine estates in the region both for red and white wines.
(Brief 30)

André Perret
17, route national 86, Verlieu, 42410 Chavanay.

One of the most interesting growers today in Saint-Joseph and Condrieu. And apparently it is not much of a secret anymore! He rapidly sells all his wines but if you are lucky you can find them in shops in e.g. Paris (Lavinia*, Les Caves Legrand*) and Brussels (ROB*). Try them if you can find them. E.g.: very aromatic Condrieu (~25€); or a powerful and typical syrah from Saint-Joseph (~14€).
(Brief 13)

Domaine Joël et Eric Durand
07130 Châteaubourg, ph 04 75 40 46 78

In the middle of the little village Chateaubourg, just behind the church, in the southern part of the appellation Saint Joseph you find the two brothers Durand – Eric and Joël. They used to sell the grapes to larger producers like Delas and Jaboulet but in the early 1990s they started to bottle their own wine. Now they make fabulous wines from their 12 hectares (7 ha in St Joseph and 5 ha in Cornas). As an example, a Cornas 2003 bought at the domaine costs 23€.

Domaine du Colombier, Crozes-Hermitage
26000 Mercurol, tel 04 75 07 44 07

Wines full of character, in particular the cuvée prestige called Gaby. Florent Viale is a master at making wines from the Syrah grape. Until 1992 Florent and his father sold all the wines to a négociant. But at that time they thought that the interest from Crozes-Hermitage had grown so much that they started to make their own wines. Which they do outstandingly well! (Brief 20)

E. Guigal
69420 Ampuis, tel 04 74 56 10 22

If you think of Côte Rôtie it is likely that you think of Guigal. Not surprisingly since they make a third of all Côte Rôtie. And Guigal “père”, Etienne Guigal who died in 1988 is somewhat of a legend in the area. But today Guigal not only makes Côte Rôtie but also wines from all of the Rhône Valley. All the wines keep a very high standard and one very good value wine is their basic Côtes-du-Rhône (6€ at the source). More picture in the photo archive. (Brief 14)

M. Chapoutier
18, avenue Docteur Paul Durand, 26601 Tain l’Hermitage, tel 04 75 08 28 65, www.chapoutier.com.

Chapoutier makes wine all over the Rhône valley and today even further south in France and in Australia, but the home is in Tain l’Hermitage. The company was founded in 1808 and has long been a well respected house. But it reached a new level of excellence when then 25 year old Michel Chapoutier took over at the end of the 1980s. He has turned it into one of the best known and well respected producers in France. He has not only improved the quality of the wines and gone into new regions but also introduced innovative thinking like Braille on the labels and organic principles in the vineyards. They have a very wide spectrum of wines, generally good value for money. Some examples: Rasteau (6.50 euro), Crozes-Hermitage (8.50 euro), Châteauneuf-du-Pape (17 euro), Cornas (21.50 euro), Hermitage (39 euro) and the very high-end sélections parcellaires, e.g. ”Les Granits” Saint Joseph 2001 (40 euro) and “Le Pavillon” Ermitage 2001 (126 euro). (Brief 12)

Domaine de la Cabasse
84110 Séguret, tel 04 90 46 91 12

Domaine de la Cabasse is situated just below the very picturesque village Séguret where you should take a stroll on the old cobble stone streets and look down on the vineyards. Cabasse belongs since 1990 to a Swiss couple, Alfred and Antoinette Haeni. They have renovated the domaine and have opened a charming small hotel and an excellent restaurant. The wines the make are also excellent, for example: the white Pimevères (Séguret) is flowery with a touch of honey (but dry of course – 6.50 euro) and the red Les Deux Anges (Sablet) is well balanced and fruity (5.50 euro) (Brief 12)

Domaine Pierre Coursodon
Saint Joseph

Domaine Jean-Louis Grippa
Saint-Joseph

Domaine Alain Graillot
Crozes-Hermitage

- -  Southern Rhône  - -

Domaine la Monardière, Vacqueyras, Rhone
www.monardiere.fr

The owner, Christian Vache, is an enthusiastic vigneron passionate about making the best wines from his terroir and from his vineyards. The property covers 20 hectares and has been extensively replanted and renovated since Christian and his wife took over this family domaine in 1987. Excellent quality wines with a lot of typicity from Vacqueyras. (Brief 53)

Château Saint-Cosme, Gigondas
Louis Barruol is owner and wine maker at Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas. He has 15 hectares of old vines that grow on very heterogeneous and complex soil in a cool micro climate. He practices low yields and crafts wines with lots of character and personality. He does not filter and uses sulphur very sparingly. His Gigondas is dominated by Grenache while his Côte du Rhône is made primarily from Syrah.  (Brief 43)

Domaine Fontavin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
www.fontavin.com
Shortly after Hélène Chouvet finished her training as an oenologist, in 1996, she took over the family property Domaine de Fontavin. From her 42 hectares she produces around 80,000 annually, half of which is exported. The main grape is Grenache (70%) with some additions of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Hélène prefers the Grenache that she thinks is well suited to the local climate and the rocky soil in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Fontavin wines often have a warmth and spiciness but maintain a good, refreshing acidity. Goes very well with game and other food with much taste. (Brief 41)