Wild Yeast Tales
Erlinda A. Doherty aka The Wine Evangelist, recently wrote an article that appeared in the Columbia Star, featuring the Les Hauts de Lagarde Bordeux red and white French organic wines from Vignobles Raymond:
“To add, or not to add? That is (generally) the question. When we are discussing “natural” wines, we are largely referring to the addition, or lack, of chemicals during the winemaking process. But there’s spectrum of what is considered natural wine and variance in the interpretation by winemakers and drinkers alike…
So, what is a natural wine? And what about organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines?
While there is no official definition of natural wine, there are general principles both wine makers and drinkers regard as standard. Most important is the wines be produced with as little chemicals or additives as possible in both the winery and in the vineyard. These wines are meant to be a strict reflection of terroir—the land and climate which give wine its unique characteristics— with minimal human or mechanical intervention…
Similar to the European certification of organic wines, this (Made with Organic Grapes) designation refers to wines that are made from organic grapes with organic additives, but allows for a higher threshold of sulfite additives (NM note: up to 100ppm). Achieving this benchmark has become popular with progressive, higher quality brands trying to find a happy medium between organic and conventional wines.
Interestingly, winemaking made with organic grapes is generally standard practice in France and the Old World, especially in areas of warmer climates such as the southern Rhone and Spain. And while the organic debate is relatively new in the U.S., much of the Old World has produced wine this way as a matter of tradition for hundreds of years…
French Organic Wines
Ultimately, if you are seeking out environmentally conscious wines, the bottle label with all its logos, brands, and certifications will tell all…
For retailers of natural wines, our local Whole Foods has the most extensive selection. French wines from organic grapes are well represented by Les Hauts de Lagarde red and white Bordeaux blends ($13.99).”
1st generation winemakers Albert & Lucie Raymond
Vignobles Raymond produces the highest-quality AOC Bordeaux French organic wines. Located in the Entre-Deux-Mers region, not far from the city of Bordeaux, their wines have grown in the villages of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, Saint-Martial, and Saint-Felix de Conclude since medieval times. The Raymond family has a long history of growing wine, dating back to 1850.
The family property of the domaine du Château de Lagarde has been built up over the years by successive generations. Today, the winery honors its heritage by using a special mixture of ancestral tradition and the most efficient modern technology.
What makes the main difference in the wine produced by organic agriculture, is the word “respect”: respect of the soil, on which the vine is planted, respect of the vine, respect of the organic methods, and all of this for the respect of the environment and the respect of the consumer. Vignoble Raymond’s wines reflect a certain “savoir-faire,” speaking deeply to their heritage with a distinct taste of place that only organic wines can impart.
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