Region: Jura, France (Vin de France) — Fruit sourced from Provence
Grapes: 100% Mourvèdre (Monastrell)
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Tart wild blackberries, blood orange zest, dried lavender, wet slate, and a pinch of black pepper, with a surprisingly light, fluid mouthfeel and crunchy, vibrant acidity
Pairing: Grilled duck breast, continuous charcuterie boards, rustic lamb burgers, or wood-fired mushroom pizza
The Producer
Les Valseuses (meaning "the dancers") is a highly dynamic, micro-scale natural wine project based in Les Planches-près-Arbois, right in the heart of the Jura region. Founded by Julia Naar and Antoine Le Court, the domain launched its first vintage in 2018 under the close mentorship of Alice Bouvot of the legendary Domaine de L'Octavin. While waiting for their newly planted estate vineyards to mature, Julia and Antoine operate as micro-négoce talent, sourcing pristine fruit exclusively from strictly organic and biodynamic growers across France. In the cellar, their philosophy operates on an uncompromising, non-dogmatic framework: relying purely on spontaneous wild yeast fermentations, avoiding any modern machinery, utilizing gentle infusion macerations, and bottling entirely unfiltered with absolutely zero added sulfur or inputs.
The Wine
The 2023 "Brutal" is a wild, highly scannable, and ethereal red wine that proudly carries the legendary black-and-yellow label of the international Brutal!!! natural wine movement. While previous iterations of their Brutal cuvée relied on a Jura-born blend of Chardonnay and Trousseau, the 2023 vintage is an entirely new, experimental creation featuring 100% Mourvèdre (Monastrell) sourced from organically farmed vineyards down in the sun-drenched hills of Provence. Transported up to their cool cellar in Arbois, Antoine and Julia choose to treat this typically heavy, muscular grape with immense delicacy. The whole grapes undergo a long, 3-month infusion style maceration without pumping or punching down. This slow, passive extraction draws out beautiful, translucent pigments and deep herbal aromas while leaving harsh, drying tannins behind. Bottled strictly zero-zero, the 2023 vintage flips the script on Mourvèdre; it manages to deliver a core of dark, wild Mediterranean fruits and volcanic spice with a shockingly light-footed, alpine-fresh glou-glou structure that absolute sings with a light chill.
Region: Jura, France (Vin de France) — Fruit sourced from Provence
Grapes: 100% Mourvèdre (Monastrell)
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Tart wild blackberries, blood orange zest, dried lavender, wet slate, and a pinch of black pepper, with a surprisingly light, fluid mouthfeel and crunchy, vibrant acidity
Pairing: Grilled duck breast, continuous charcuterie boards, rustic lamb burgers, or wood-fired mushroom pizza
The Producer
Les Valseuses (meaning "the dancers") is a highly dynamic, micro-scale natural wine project based in Les Planches-près-Arbois, right in the heart of the Jura region. Founded by Julia Naar and Antoine Le Court, the domain launched its first vintage in 2018 under the close mentorship of Alice Bouvot of the legendary Domaine de L'Octavin. While waiting for their newly planted estate vineyards to mature, Julia and Antoine operate as micro-négoce talent, sourcing pristine fruit exclusively from strictly organic and biodynamic growers across France. In the cellar, their philosophy operates on an uncompromising, non-dogmatic framework: relying purely on spontaneous wild yeast fermentations, avoiding any modern machinery, utilizing gentle infusion macerations, and bottling entirely unfiltered with absolutely zero added sulfur or inputs.
The Wine
The 2023 "Brutal" is a wild, highly scannable, and ethereal red wine that proudly carries the legendary black-and-yellow label of the international Brutal!!! natural wine movement. While previous iterations of their Brutal cuvée relied on a Jura-born blend of Chardonnay and Trousseau, the 2023 vintage is an entirely new, experimental creation featuring 100% Mourvèdre (Monastrell) sourced from organically farmed vineyards down in the sun-drenched hills of Provence. Transported up to their cool cellar in Arbois, Antoine and Julia choose to treat this typically heavy, muscular grape with immense delicacy. The whole grapes undergo a long, 3-month infusion style maceration without pumping or punching down. This slow, passive extraction draws out beautiful, translucent pigments and deep herbal aromas while leaving harsh, drying tannins behind. Bottled strictly zero-zero, the 2023 vintage flips the script on Mourvèdre; it manages to deliver a core of dark, wild Mediterranean fruits and volcanic spice with a shockingly light-footed, alpine-fresh glou-glou structure 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.