Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, France (Vin de France)
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, Muscat à Petits Grains
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Crunchy cranberries, wild raspberries, fresh pomegranate, white pepper, and a touch of Mediterranean garrigue, with laser-sharp acidity and exceptionally soft, fluid tannins
Pairing: French saucisson, grilled chicken skewers, duck confit tacos, traditional pâté de campagne, or continuous charcuterie boards
The Producer
Les Cigales dans la Fourmilière (meaning "The Cicadas in the Anthill") is an authoritative, collaborative natural wine project based in Montpeyroux, within the Languedoc region of southern France. The domain is run by the highly talented winemaking partners Ivo Ferreira (formerly of Domaine de l'Escarpolette) and Julie Brosselin. While they manage the organically farmed vineyards together, they maintain friendly independence in the cellar, crafting separate cuvées that reflect their individual winemaking intuition. The Montpeyroux community of growers has become a benchmark for proving that the Languedoc can produce light, fresh, and transparently clear natural wines rather than the heavy, overly extracted styles traditionally associated with the warm region. Following a strict zero-zero framework, everything is fermented spontaneously with native wild yeasts and bottled with zero filtration, zero fining, and absolutely no added sulfur.
The Wine
The 2025 "Marée Basse" (which translates beautifully to "Low Tide") is an incredibly energetic, light-footed chillable red co-ferment engineered to celebrate pure drinkability and Mediterranean vibrancy. Mirroring the scrubby, wild coastline of its terroir, this cuvée utilizes a dynamic blend of Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, and a tiny aromatic lift of Muscat à Petits Grains. The hand-harvested grapes undergo a short, gentle co-maceration lasting between 3 to 7 days in wooden vats, a process that extracts a translucent, light ruby hue and crunchy fruit character while completely bypassing harsh, heavy grape tannins. Following a spontaneous native yeast fermentation, the wine matures for five months in neutral tanks on its fine lees before an early bottling. The resulting 2025 vintage shows exceptional scannability on the palate; it balances high-toned red orchard berries and subtle herbal perfumes with an electric, mouthwatering acidity and a clean, thirst-quenching finish that absolute sings with a light chill.
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, France (Vin de France)
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, Muscat à Petits Grains
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Crunchy cranberries, wild raspberries, fresh pomegranate, white pepper, and a touch of Mediterranean garrigue, with laser-sharp acidity and exceptionally soft, fluid tannins
Pairing: French saucisson, grilled chicken skewers, duck confit tacos, traditional pâté de campagne, or continuous charcuterie boards
The Producer
Les Cigales dans la Fourmilière (meaning "The Cicadas in the Anthill") is an authoritative, collaborative natural wine project based in Montpeyroux, within the Languedoc region of southern France. The domain is run by the highly talented winemaking partners Ivo Ferreira (formerly of Domaine de l'Escarpolette) and Julie Brosselin. While they manage the organically farmed vineyards together, they maintain friendly independence in the cellar, crafting separate cuvées that reflect their individual winemaking intuition. The Montpeyroux community of growers has become a benchmark for proving that the Languedoc can produce light, fresh, and transparently clear natural wines rather than the heavy, overly extracted styles traditionally associated with the warm region. Following a strict zero-zero framework, everything is fermented spontaneously with native wild yeasts and bottled with zero filtration, zero fining, and absolutely no added sulfur.
The Wine
The 2025 "Marée Basse" (which translates beautifully to "Low Tide") is an incredibly energetic, light-footed chillable red co-ferment engineered to celebrate pure drinkability and Mediterranean vibrancy. Mirroring the scrubby, wild coastline of its terroir, this cuvée utilizes a dynamic blend of Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, and a tiny aromatic lift of Muscat à Petits Grains. The hand-harvested grapes undergo a short, gentle co-maceration lasting between 3 to 7 days in wooden vats, a process that extracts a translucent, light ruby hue and crunchy fruit character while completely bypassing harsh, heavy grape tannins. Following a spontaneous native yeast fermentation, the wine matures for five months in neutral tanks on its fine lees before an early bottling. The resulting 2025 vintage shows exceptional scannability on the palate; it balances high-toned red orchard berries and subtle herbal perfumes with an electric, mouthwatering acidity and a clean, thirst-quenching finish that absolute sings with a light chill.
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.