Natural and Triple A wines | Our selection

Natural wines, including those with the Triple A label, represent a whole new(ish) part of the wine universe to be explored and enjoyed. To help you navigate our selection, we got some of our team to pick their favourite bottles and tell us a bit about them.

A quick reminder, natural wines are those made with no added sulphites, or just a very small dose. Sulphites are used in the industry as a way of stabilising the wine, but more and more producers are rejecting the use of chemical additives in their craft…some have always held this philosophy, and others are fresher on the scene. Either way, there is not yet an official definition for a natural wine, but at iDealwine we’ve used a measure of 40 mg/L of SO2 as the maximum. Beyond the question of sulphites, these wines are often produced organically, meaning that both the vineyard and the winery are kept free of chemical intervention and synthetic additives. To find out more, we have an article dedicated to natural wines here: Natural wine: a passing trend or a sustainable phenomenon?

As for natural wines with a Triple A label, they largely cover the same criteria. Luca Gargano and his team have a strict selection process based on how the wine is produced, taking into account the integrity of the craft and centring terroir. The Triple A label is their way of recognising wine makers who firmly reject any standardisation in the industry. You can read our full article here.

Here we have some top picks from the team to help guide you in your choices:

Laure Bouzereau, Communications and Events

2019 Moulin à Vent by Paul-Henri Thillardon: ‘I recommend this domain for the summer, cuvées that bring back wonderful tasting memories from me during a trip to the Beaujolais. They go really well with a barbecue!’
2018 Pommard by Fanny Sabre: ‘I’ve tried some of Fanny Sabre’s other cuvées and loved them, so I’m keen to try this one, too. Coming from my home region, I have a soft spot…’
2019 Savennières Clos de la Coulée de Serrant: ‘This is a perfect bottle to open on a summer evening; it pairs nicely with dishes involving fish or white meat. It’s quite intense, which surprised me, so I recommend aerating it a few hours before serving.’

Angélique de Lencquesaing, Deputy Managing Director

2018 Bourgeuil Nuits d’Ivresse by Catherine et Pierre Breton: ‘Firstly, I love the name of this cuvée. A joyful idea well and truly reflected in the wine itself: it’s easy to drink, flavourful, and doesn’t take itself too seriously’
2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Poignée de raisins by Gramenon: ‘Another bottle that goes down nicely. It’s a deliciously fine Grenache, full of life with a crisp fruitiness. It also comes in a magnum format…’
2018 Côtes-du-Rhône Cairanne by Marcel Richaud: ‘The Grenache really comes through in this blend without straying into over-ripeness. Delicious and perfectly balanced’
2018 Chambolle-Musigny by Philippe Pacalet: ‘Philippe Pacalet’s wines are delicate, elegant, and accessible even in their youth. A talented vintner who understands that we don’t all have the patience or the cellar to wait decades for a wine to reach its prime’

Ludovic Gourlet, Expertise

2019 Arbois Trousseau singulier by Stéphane Tissot: ‘A must-try Jura wine, especially for this grape, showing the consistent quality of a truly great vintner.’
2018 Côte-Rôtie Coteaux de Bassenon by Jean-Michel Stephan: ‘A magnificent Côte-Rôtie to leave in the cellar for a few years to get the most from it. One of the appellation’s unmissable producers.’

Eloïse Rusier, Purchasing Project Manager

2018 Maranges 1^er Cru La Fussière by Domaine des Rouges Queues: ‘A fresh, complex, and refined wine. A perfect Pinot for the warmer months. You can taste the effects of the whole crop harvest.’
2018 Sancerre Les Grands Champs by Domaine Fouassier: ‘A pure and thirst-quenching wine that pairs nicely with raw fish.’
2019 Arbois Rose Massale by Bénédicte and Stéphane Tissot: ‘This is a very rare variety of Chardonnay. A huge amount of work went into cultivating this specific grape (they started with one plant!), and the wine is complex and precise.’

Thomas Battistonni, Digital Marketing

2017 Côtes-du-Rhône Rubiconde by Gramenon: ‘A generous Rhône wine with a gentle floral scent and notes of red and black fruit.’
2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Petit ours brun by Domaine du Coulet: ‘This round and aromatic Syrah is one of my go-to wines.’

Anne Boilleau, Digital Marketing Assistant

2018 Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Clos Moulin Chartrie by Bonnet-Huteau: ‘Forget all your misconceptions about Muscadet and take the time to try this deep, complex, and mineral wine.’
2016 Côtes de Nuits villages Viola Odorata by Domaine Naudin-Ferrand: ‘A lovely expression of Pinot Noir, made with care and precision. Like a basket of red fruit on the nose and the palate.’