Region: Languedoc, France (Vin de France)
Grapes: Mostly Cinsault and Carignan (with a small field blend of Grenache Noir)
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Juicy black cherries, wild blackberries, crushed pomegranate, dried hibiscus, black tea leaf, and a distinct punch of wild garrigue herbs with a bright, electric, and crunchy finish
Pairing: Grilled duck breast, continuous charcuterie boards, pork belly bao buns, cold roast chicken with herbed mayo, or spicy wood-fired pizza
The Producer
Domaine Mada is a brilliant, micro-scale natural wine project based out of Nizas in the Hérault department of the Languedoc. Founded in 2016 by Édouard Adam (the name "Mada" is a clever palindrome of his last name), the domain has quickly achieved cult status for producing wines that are, as he says, "anything but boring." A former commerce student who found his calling after helping with a harvest at his father-in-law's estate, Édouard treats his tiny vineyard like a protected nature reserve, allowing native flora, fauna, and cover crops to grow completely wild. In the cellar, his approach is deeply non-interventionist and uncompromisingly "zero-zero": relying strictly on whole-cluster fermentations with native wild yeasts, aging mostly in neutral fiberglass vats, and completely bypassing fining, filtration, or the addition of synthetic sulfur.
The Wine
The 2023 "Furie" is a masterclass in the contemporary Southern French vin de soif movement, engineered to flip the traditionally heavy, over-extracted, and jammy tropes of the Languedoc on its head. Made from a low-yield blend of old-vine Cinsault and Carignan, Édouard refuses to destem his estate fruit, famously noting that it makes no sense to put so much energy into growing healthy grapes on clusters just to rip them off. The intact, whole-cluster berries undergo a short, gentle infusion style maceration driven by native yeasts to extract highly concentrated, translucent primary fruit flavors while avoiding aggressive, drying wood or grape tannins. Bottled entirely zero-zero, this highly scannable 2023 vintage delivers a thrilling "fury" of energy; it perfectly bridges a deep, dark-fruited core of mountain berries and spicy wild herbs with a light-footed, mouthwatering acidity and a thirst-quenching precision that begs for a light chill before serving.
Region: Languedoc, France (Vin de France)
Grapes: Mostly Cinsault and Carignan (with a small field blend of Grenache Noir)
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Juicy black cherries, wild blackberries, crushed pomegranate, dried hibiscus, black tea leaf, and a distinct punch of wild garrigue herbs with a bright, electric, and crunchy finish
Pairing: Grilled duck breast, continuous charcuterie boards, pork belly bao buns, cold roast chicken with herbed mayo, or spicy wood-fired pizza
The Producer
Domaine Mada is a brilliant, micro-scale natural wine project based out of Nizas in the Hérault department of the Languedoc. Founded in 2016 by Édouard Adam (the name "Mada" is a clever palindrome of his last name), the domain has quickly achieved cult status for producing wines that are, as he says, "anything but boring." A former commerce student who found his calling after helping with a harvest at his father-in-law's estate, Édouard treats his tiny vineyard like a protected nature reserve, allowing native flora, fauna, and cover crops to grow completely wild. In the cellar, his approach is deeply non-interventionist and uncompromisingly "zero-zero": relying strictly on whole-cluster fermentations with native wild yeasts, aging mostly in neutral fiberglass vats, and completely bypassing fining, filtration, or the addition of synthetic sulfur.
The Wine
The 2023 "Furie" is a masterclass in the contemporary Southern French vin de soif movement, engineered to flip the traditionally heavy, over-extracted, and jammy tropes of the Languedoc on its head. Made from a low-yield blend of old-vine Cinsault and Carignan, Édouard refuses to destem his estate fruit, famously noting that it makes no sense to put so much energy into growing healthy grapes on clusters just to rip them off. The intact, whole-cluster berries undergo a short, gentle infusion style maceration driven by native yeasts to extract highly concentrated, translucent primary fruit flavors while avoiding aggressive, drying wood or grape tannins. Bottled entirely zero-zero, this highly scannable 2023 vintage delivers a thrilling "fury" of energy; it perfectly bridges a deep, dark-fruited core of mountain berries and spicy wild herbs with a light-footed, mouthwatering acidity and a thirst-quenching precision that begs for a light chill before serving.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.