Languedoc, France
Oenologist: François Ducrot
Environmental Practice: Organic, Vegan Friendly, Low Sulphites & Sustainable Agriculture
François Ducrot is a vine magician, born & raised in Burgundy! After graduating in 2006 as a trained oenologist at the Institut de la Vigne et du Vin in Dijon, he started as Maître de Chai (master of the cellar) for Domaine Enclos de la Croix, in Lansargues.
Although the vineyard had used organic farming techniques since the early ‘80s, through his environmental philosophy, François pushed the Domaine to officially obtain the Organic certification. In 2011 they reached this goal under his tenure. He then went on to modify the vinification process to remove the use of all animal based products during winemaking & limit the addition of sulphites as much as possible. Today, these same practices are a part of Maison François Ducrot’s mantra.
All their wines are organic, vegan, low or free of sulphites & as natural as possible. Not just to show off the varietals & terroir, but also what nature has to offer when in the hands of a skilled artisan winemaker... Less is often more, which is proven in the final product!
The vineyard consists of twenty-three hectares of single vineyard blocks, passed down through generations into eight separate parcels. Here he dreamed of a domain attached to its roots & inspired by a responsible & sustainable future. François runs the estate with his daughter Agathe who shares his ethos. Their vision was to make wines from cleaner soils, where trees, wild animals, grape vines & families could live together in harmony.
This collection ‘Les Moutons’ is named after their favourite natural weed killer… SHEEEEEP!
No pesticides, low sulphur,
all un-sheepishly wonderful!
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La Vie en Blanc! - 2022
FDC1-W - Languedoc IGP - Grenache Blanc - 12.5%
Life needs to be full of joy & happiness! Every moment matters as every person close to you matters… their Be kind, be wise, be generous with what’s around you & life will give it back to you!
All the grapes for this wonderful white are carefully selected & there is no use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. All selections are from the area of Aspiran, Hrault which is dominated by stones with a certain depth with the presence of limestone.
Tasting Notes: Typical of Languedoc, Grenache Blanc is a varietal that really empowers us with its floralness & fruitiness. The freshness is preserved with a good acidity & lovely aromas. Suave floral notes of rose & peony combine with some light fennel. Lively with a medium acidity & seductive palate with layers of ripe pear, apricot, jasmine & magnolia freshness
Food Pairing: As an aperitif, with starters, chicken/pork, fish, seafood (fresh or grilled) & fresh cheese like goat cheese.
Note: The only time you won't be smiling, is when the bottle is empty!!!
Serving Temperature: 8-10°C
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La Vie en Rosé - 2022
FDC1-RS - Languedoc IGP - 50% Malbec, 50% Merlot - 12.5%
Coeur d’Artichaut is a French expression about love (of course)! It’s about a sheep that falls in love with a wine lover… but more importantly, who wouldn't fall in love with a lovely sheep!!! Here they wanted to use Malbec, as it is not often seen in Languedoc & has a fabulous aroma profile for Rosés. Married with Merlot, you will find tangy flavours of redcurrant & raspberry, with hints of juicy peaches & nectarines. As well, the body will be a bit rounder as they use the Saignée method specifically to add structure & complexity to the wine. Oh la la….this is making me falling in love just talking about it!
Tasting Notes: Elegant nose of red fruits like redcurrant, raspberry soft rosewater. On the palate the lively & crunchy character of grapefruit combines with refreshing ripe fruits, evolving towards a full & round finish. Making it an extremely easy drinking rose.
Serving Temperature: 8-10°C
Food Pairing: Pairs with fresh canapés, fish like salmon & tuna tartar or desserts such as apricot tart.
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La Vie en Rouge! - 2022
FDC1-R - Languedoc IGP - Merlot - 12%
100% Merlot – NO ADDED SULPHITES
This is the first creation of François. Merlot is a widely planted varietal in Languedoc & sometimes abused by winemakers as a ‘blending grape’, so François wanted to restore its fame & reputation. To do that you have to go “Little by little…”
Harvested at optimum times for a lighter alcohol profile & stronger acidity. By using patience & expertise, François produces a wine with smooth tannins & medium alcohol, balanced with a good acidity. Winemaking is an art… Little by little!
Tasting Notes: Being a Merlot from the South, expect complex black & red fruits to perfume your glass with a hint of black pepper. The palate is full-bodied & indulgent with juicy freshness & soft tannins. Exploding with red pepper, red fruits & flaming chorizo.
Serving Temperature: 14-16°C
Food Pairing: Grilled meats, duck, spicy dishes or vegetables with paprika sauces & cold cuts (charcuteries). Feel a bit too hot? Pop it in the fridge for 20 mins & you will feel like you’re having a basket of fresh fruit!
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GRENACHE E TROIS - 2022
FDC2-R - Languedoc - Grenache Blanc, Noir and Gris - 12.5%
Winemaking Process: This Grenache wine is made from carefully selected organic grapes from three different regions in Languedoc: Aspiran (Grenache Blanc), Saint-Aunès (Grenache Noir), and Aigues-Mortes (Grenache Gris).
Tasting Notes: ‘3G’ has a light ruby (or deep pink) colour and an intense nose of red and black fruits. On the palate, the wine is expressive, with a focus on lightness and gourmandise. It boasts intense aromas of fruit, including strawberry, raspberry, peach, and more. The freshness of the Grenache Blanc is carried by the complex aromatics of the Grenache Gris. The few tannins of the Grenache Noir ,gently add to the wine's body.
Food Pairings: This wine pairs well with a variety of foods. It is a great aperitif wine and pairs well with grilled fish and meat, spicy dishes or dishes with sauces, and cold cuts.
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Go Low White 2022
Coming Soon
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Go Low Rosé 2022
Coming Soon
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Go Low Red 2022
Coming Soon