The 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Nature, which is a vin de pays made from 50% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah and Grenache, is bottled with no fining or filtering, and as stated above, has no SO2, which makes it very unstable if it transported outside the local region. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by mushroom, smoky, meaty notes, medium body and elevated tannin in the spicy finish. This is a relatively big, structured effort, but its fragility must be considered when purchasing it outside of southern France. The leading reference point estate in the Cotes du Ventoux region, Domaine de Fondreche is run with extraordinary passion and impeccable attention to detail by Sebastian Vincenti and Manou Barthelemy. This large estate of just under 100 acres is biodynamically farmed and all the red wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Additionally, the Cuvee Nature was produced without any SO2 .Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 2008 Nature is a blend of 50% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah, and 20% Grenache bottled with no fining or filtration, and virtually no sulfur used in the process of making it. The wine is probably best drunk in France, as these wines tend to be somewhat unstable in travel, but this is the essence of a naked wine. Fresh lively berries, crushed rocks, and spring flowers all jump from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine. It is medium-bodied, fruity, and ideal for drinking over the next 2-3 years. One of the consistently superb estates in the Cotes du Ventoux, Domaine de Fondreche offers very high quality and reasonable prices. The creation of Sebastian Vincenti and Manou Barthelemy, these wines are bursting with fruit and have loads of minerality and aromatics. They are beautiful efforts representing the best of what a young generation of French producers can do. The estate is just under 100 acres in size and is now 100% biodynamically farmed. As Sebastian Vincenti told me, 2008 was a very strong vintage for the whites but presented many challenges with the reds.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083