Champagne Cazals in Mesnil-sur-Oger dates back from the late XIX Century. Over decades, the family has quietly acquired a remarkable collection of jaw dropping vineyards : from a once named “Clos Chétillons”, le ‘Puy de Gaumes’ neighboring Vertus or the southern tip of ‘Les Carelles’ made famous by Selosse. But the crown jewel of Delphine Cazals holdings is unquestionably the walled-in vineyard inside her family home in the famous village of Oger, home to some of the most gifted Chardonnay vineyards in all of Champagne. Clos Cazals is undeniably one of Champagne’s emerging behemoths given its geographical location.

Even if Guillaume Sergent was born in a line of champagne makers traced back to 1842, he is not following in anybody’s footsteps. He has carved out just over 3 acres of the family’s 9ha in Vrigny and makes Champagne like a Bourguignon: never blending Chardonnay and Pinots nor harvest years, aging in five demi-muids for an entire year, plus one year ‘sur latte’ with a minimum dosage then disgorged and released. The end result is two aromatic wines with laser beam intensity. Occasionally available, a Côteaux Champenois ‘Clos des Croix” formerly a rose garden planted by Guillaume in 2014, ‘Pataphysique single vineyard of Pinot Meunier old vines from Vrigny left as Brut Nature and the rare Bouteilles Oubliées (B.O.) which is a Pré-Dieu kept for 6 years before disgorgment.

Meurville is way way South : much closer to Chablis than Reims or even Epernay. Rémi Leroy started converting the family vineyard to organic farming as early as 2009 and his hard work and dedication have paid off. He has taken full advantage of his unique terroir (Meurville has the highest concentration of Portlandian limestone in Champagne) and crafts powerful yet elegant Pinot Noir – based Extra Brut and Brut Nature. His talent is no longer a secret and we can enjoy his wines at some of the best tables across France.

Bolieu is located in the village of Bassuet, in a remote and less known part of Champagne nearby the town of Vitry-Le-François. Le Vitryat only covers 1000 acres today and has been largely forgotten after the Phylloxera crisis. Bolieu’s 6.5 ha are mostly composed of Chardonnay planted on S/SW exposed hillsides, anchored in a partiular type of chalk with clay inclusion. These characteristics tend to bring an openness in the mid palate and citrus notes to the Chardonnay. All cuvées went through extended aging on the lies: Pépin de Vignes is kept 55 months, Fleur de Craie 77 months, Instant B 08 135 months…

Aurore applies the same dedication and rigueur to the family estate in Mardeuil than the one she displayed as reknown international dancer. Like her husband Jean-Baptiste, she studied at the Avize wine school and decided to adopt a philosophy of respect toward humanity and the environment. The 3.5 ha undergoing organic certification are located in the confidential Puisieulx (Grand Cru outside of Reims), Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champvoisy and Epernay.

Aurélien took over the family farm in 2016 and represents the 4th generation of Champagne grower producers. His estate of mostly old
vines are located in Congy in the Coteaux du PetitMorin, Coizard and Les Riceys (1Ha) for a total 6.5 ha. His heritage includes traditional know-how and reserve wines. Each Champagne is named after a flower or a plant that forms the cover crop in his vineyards.

Not all Muscadet wines are created equal. The Domaine de la Bretonnière’s 46ha is very well situated, divided between the granite from Clisson, the gneiss from Saint-Fiacre and the sought-after granite from Chateau-Thébaud at the Pont Caffino’s ‘small canyon’. These distinctive sites are producing wines with balance and freshness. This young 5th generation is elevating the domaine to a new level of quality while respecting both their terroir and the environment.

With roots going back to the middle-ages, the Domaine aux Moines, one of the two pearls of Anjou, needs little introduction. Yet, things are quietly evolving at this prestigious estate with Tessa Laroche firmly at the helm and her eyes set on the future. The commitment to biodynamic farming, the attention to detail, the respect of history while welcoming of new practices are all enhancing the attribute of this extraordinary vineyard of Savennières Roche-Aux-Moines. The best is probably yet to come and that’s no small feat.

The domaine has been past down in the Moyer family since the 1850s. Today, Damien is crafting some beautiful chenins from a collection of organically farmed vineyards between the Cher and Loire rivers. Damien’s deep knowledge of his terroir and meticulous approach in the cellar is clearly displayed in his range of wines. They all share a sense of clarity and lift, precise aromatic, strong core and lasting finish that calls for more.

2019 was Florian’s first personal vintage after spending 6 years at the family estate in Vouvray. He selected a 6ha parcel named “Les Aumônes” in Rochecorbon from this south facing slope in the “première côtes’ that sits directly above the Loire river where chenin ripens early on the limestone and clay mix. Early picking, organic farming (with first steps toward biodynamic preparation under the guidance of Jean-Bernard Berthomé of Huet’s fame), indigenous yeasts, older wood vessel and measured intervention in the cellar result in a honest and conclusive dry Vouvray.

The daughter of one of Sancerre’s most iconic character, Alphonse Mellot, Emmanuelle grew-up among the best winemakers France has to offer. She has put her deep knowledge of Center Loire, technical expertise and her second to none connections to launch a négoce under her name. The result is a ‘dream team’ of top-tier producers in each AOP, most of whom are highly allocated under their domaine labels.

The Vaillant, an old family of winemakers, are located in Thouarcé, Anjou, home of the Bonnezeaux AOP. Famous for its sweet Chenin expression, the Demeter certified estate also produces beautiful dry wines and a collection of enticing reds made with Grolleau, Pineau d’Aunis and Cabernet Franc.

“Now, this is a winemaker who deserves much higher status and perhaps that is just a matter of time” wrote Neil Martin in January 2019 after a tasting of Rossignol’s 2017s. Nicolas is crafting wines from a broad range of top notch vineyards in Volnay and Pommard predominantly. Practicing uncertified organic farming with some biodynamic concepts, he doesn’t follow one single recipe, and each parcel of vineyard is constantly re-assessed during harvest. A new cellar was built just in time for the 2016 vintage and the future looks nothing less than stellar for Nicolas Rossignol.

Childhood friends Sébastien Dupré and Guillaume Goujon turned the uncle’s domaine in Côte de Brouilly into an agro-ecological system and delivering increasingly deep and elegant Côte de Brouilly. Vineyards are located on 3 terroirs, L’Héronde, Le Pavé and Les Brulhiés, on diorite (‘blue stone’) with sandy-clay soils.  A single vineyard in Blacé, about 10km to the south, is producing the Chardonnay “Clos des Muriers” on clay and limestone.

The unassuming Jean-Claude Crédoz happens to be the largest vineyard owner in the tiny Château-Chalon appellation and certainly one of the very finest. All his holdings are within the boundaries of the 4 villages that constitute the undisputed top cru of the Jura. From a family deeply rooted into the local wine culture, he carves this extraordinary range of wines from his organically farmed collection of vineyards. Credoz’ offering are some of the cleanest, spinal wines you can find in the region.

To say that Jean-Claude Masson’s vineyards are in a unique site would be an understatement : they lie under the dramatic cliff of the Mont Granier, the Northern tip of La Grande Chartreuse, the Great Wall of limestone that guards the pre-Alps and the famous monastery who gave us its liquor. Masson pushes the local Jacquère to greatness; there is no oak, no tricks, just a phenomenal energy that seem to come from this very mountain and a natural amplitude that fits like a glove the winemaker’s personality, like a fresh and powerful torrent.

In a region regarded as bargain for old vines and incredible potential, Jean Gardiés didn’t come from Bordeaux or money. This is his father’s land. Representing the 5th generation, now joined by his son Victor, he was among the first to promote unfortified wines. Produced from very old vines on limestone, these are built to last for decades. Mas Las Cabès is a 15ha estate on shistes offering wines that are less structured. The family continues to produce extraordinary Rivesaltes going back eons. Both estates are certified organic.

The 80+ small plots of Roc des Anges in the Pyrénées’ foothills, might be producing some of the freshest, most electric wines in the South of France. Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet are crafting aromatic, deep, complex but lifted reds and a collection of high-toned white wines grown on schistes that could remind you of the best of Anjou. Roc des Anges is a flag bearer for an idea of the Languedoc-Roussillon, where its terroir rivals the very best French appellations.

The Negrel family has farmed the Mas de Cadenet for the last 200 years; organically for the last 35. The 40ha domaine lies just under the stunning Sainte-Victoire mountain made famous by the painter Paul Cézanne. The limestone chain, rising 3000ft above an ocean of vineyards, rarely spreads its precious broken down rocks but here gives Mas de Cadenet its edge, its distinctive cut, its personality. Guy Negrel, a founding father of the sub-appellation system in Provence has been joined by his children Maud and Matthieu whose expertise in the pristine cellar is considered benchmark by many.

The story goes that at the creation of the AOP system, following the example of Château-Grillet in Condrieu, a singular estate in Provence would be granted its own Appellation as it was so distinctive. When the administrator arrived at the Château Simone, they discovered that a second Château shared the same characteristics and the AOP took the name of a ‘lieu-dit’ in between the two: Palette. After decades in the shadow of the prestigious Simone, Crémade, under new ownership since 2000, is finally reaching the full potential of a unique vineyard, patchwork of more than 13 grape varieties, some unique to Provence, others unique to this historic estate.

Patrimonio  is wildly considered to be one of Corsica’s prime AOP due to its complex soil structure, mixing clay, limestone, granite and blue schistes. Pierre-Joseph Leccia grew the estate and turned it over his two children Annette and Yves. In 2004 they each went their own way with Annette keeping Domaine Leccia, its cellar and the historic vineyards. Yves’ son, Lisandru, after working with his father, took over the Domaine Leccia from his aunt Annette.  The young winemaker sets the bar up high with organic farming, new plantings and the ambition to make bright, elegant and deep wines.