Region: Southern Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône), France
Grapes: Predominantly Grenache and Cinsault, with Syrah and Carignan
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Fresh wild strawberry, crunchy red plum, pomegranate, garrigue herbs, cracked black pepper, and subtle granite minerals, with a bouncy natural acidity, soft tannins, and a thirst-quenching finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, grilled pork sausages, roasted chicken, margherita pizza, or roasted Mediterranean vegetables
The Producer
Les Vignerons d'Estézargues is a legendary co-op located in a small village near Avignon in the Southern Rhône Valley. Unlike traditional European cooperatives that blend member grapes into massive uniform batches, Estézargues revolutionized the concept in 1995 by vinifying every grower's grapes separately and practicing strict natural winemaking. Farming organically and sustainably, the collective relies on low-intervention cellar practices across all its bottlings: spontaneous fermentations with native yeasts, zero additives, no fining, no filtration, and minimal sulfur additions at bottling.
The Wine
"Carambouille" is an ultra-pure, high-energy glou-glou cuvée designed for pure drinking pleasure. Crafted primarily from old-vine Grenache and Cinsault grown on clay-limestone soils strewn with smooth quartz river stones (galets roulés), the hand-harvested grapes undergo a short, gentle fermentation in concrete tanks to keep tannins soft and preserve maximum fruit purity. Bottled unfiltered and unfined with minimal sulfur, the 2024 vintage delivers a vibrant burst of bright red berries, wild herbs, and peppery spice framed by a light, refreshing structure that begs for a light chill.
Region: Southern Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône), France
Grapes: Predominantly Grenache and Cinsault, with Syrah and Carignan
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Fresh wild strawberry, crunchy red plum, pomegranate, garrigue herbs, cracked black pepper, and subtle granite minerals, with a bouncy natural acidity, soft tannins, and a thirst-quenching finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, grilled pork sausages, roasted chicken, margherita pizza, or roasted Mediterranean vegetables
The Producer
Les Vignerons d'Estézargues is a legendary co-op located in a small village near Avignon in the Southern Rhône Valley. Unlike traditional European cooperatives that blend member grapes into massive uniform batches, Estézargues revolutionized the concept in 1995 by vinifying every grower's grapes separately and practicing strict natural winemaking. Farming organically and sustainably, the collective relies on low-intervention cellar practices across all its bottlings: spontaneous fermentations with native yeasts, zero additives, no fining, no filtration, and minimal sulfur additions at bottling.
The Wine
"Carambouille" is an ultra-pure, high-energy glou-glou cuvée designed for pure drinking pleasure. Crafted primarily from old-vine Grenache and Cinsault grown on clay-limestone soils strewn with smooth quartz river stones (galets roulés), the hand-harvested grapes undergo a short, gentle fermentation in concrete tanks to keep tannins soft and preserve maximum fruit purity. Bottled unfiltered and unfined with minimal sulfur, the 2024 vintage delivers a vibrant burst of bright red berries, wild herbs, and peppery spice framed by a light, refreshing structure that begs for 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.