Auvergne is on a roll, and winemakers are hip to the charms of its volcanic soil and gentle climate. The combo gives the wines a super pure and expressive quality and presents them in a totally unique way. And the land is affordable, allowing young talents to own and start domains. You’ll see the best of Auvergne on display in the wines from an OG and a new star, both which just returned to the shop.

Marie & Vincent Tricot set the bar in Auvergne and Henri Chauvet is the newest winemaker to watch. Both farm organically, make wine in a low-intervention style, employ native yeast, and use low (to no) SO2. But, the final wines are quite different.

Tricot leans more tense and quenching, while Chuavet makes arguably more luxurious feeling wine with oxygen playing a larger role in the process. They are an experience to taste side-by-side. Both showcase this magical place tucked just west of Beaujolais.

Marie & Vincent Tricot 

 Largely considered a reference for natural wine in Auvergne, the couple purchased 4.5 ha of organic vines (many pre-phylloxera) and planted an additional 6 ha in 2002. Informed by their time with Pierre Coton and Marcel Lapierre, the wines are consistently pure-fruited and aromatic. 

‘22 'Petit Rouge de la Cote Ouest', Vin de France 

This wine comes from a single plot of Gamay where the vines grow on volcanic and limestone soil. Fermented in tank, aged in old wood and bottled unfined and unfiltered with no added sulfur.

‘22 'Rasserene' Blanc, Vin de France 

We love this classy wine. It’s equal parts Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, laid down in old barrel. Bottled without So2. Flinty and refreshing with a very long finish. 

Henri Chauvet 

As a young man who took over the estate of Annie Sauvat in Boudes, he hit the ground running. His pedigree and time with Thierry Allemand is apparent since the first ‘21 vintage. The domain is 10.5 hectares planted with Gamay (60%), Pinot Noir (30%), and Chardonnay (10%).  

'22 Côtes d`Auvergne 'Froussard' Blanc 

Old massale selection of Burgundian Chardonnay thats whole cluster pressed into old wood where it remains unstirred and topped up until the following year. 

'22 Côtes d'Auvergne Rouge 

Gamay of both the Auvergne and Beaujolais variety planted in iron rich clay.  A short maceration before aging in old wood keeps freshness in the wine.  

'22 Côtes d`Auvergne 'Abrupts' 

A selection of his top Gamay which unlike the rouge, sees 4 weeks of maceration before aging in old wood. Structured, impressive Gamay showing Auvergne’s dark, rich soils.  

'22 ‘Vie Ordinaire’ VDF Red 

All Pinot Noir from a pure volcanic site, its fermented 100% whole cluster and is the one wine in the lineup that sees some new wood (35%) with an extremely light toast. Showing noble reduction and wild red fruit, it's a special reflection of the varietal.