Vincent et Marie Tricot ‘Les Petits Fleurs’

Vincent et Marie Tricot ‘Les Petits Fleurs’ – Wracked with a seemingly electric charge, this plump expression of Gamay shall wage war on one’s palette. This is articulation to the highest degree. It erupts from bottle like a geyser; mounting layers of fresh red berries over more herbaceous tones. Subtle pinches of bruised plum, foxglove and lavender augment the elegant performance of this wine. A conclusive reverberation of black olive reinforces its vivacious mineral structure; plainly, a triumph of balance and energy. Having been hand-harvested, the grapes are fermented whole-bunch. They undergo a semi-carbonic maceration before spending 12 months old French oak.

Vincent, Anjou-born, discovered “le monde du vin naturel” and his love for it while helping Jo Cotton with a Beaujolais harvest . Having globe-trotted, doing stints in various wineries, he, his wife and two daughters moved to an Auvergne whistle-stop called Orcet. Wielding vast stores of passion and knowledge, they were determined to produce low-intervention wines. Moreover, Vincent was aware of the concentration of pre-phylloxera vines that dominated this region, a rare, opportunisitic blessing. Having been lucky enough to assume control of a site that had been working organically since 1971, they purchased 4.5ha of vines. Since 2011, they have been making wines without the addition of sulphites, focusing on terroir. Evidently, this powerhouse duo, married in both matrimony and philosophy, are aware of the mighty faculties possessed by Auvergne soils.

Vincent et Marie Tricot ‘Les Petits Fleurs’ – harnessing the power of this region’s extrusive influence. The combination of the clay limestone and volcanic schists create a potential vivacity which the Tricots have enabled in all of their cuveés. Furthermore, the cleansing minerality that lurks on this elixir’s finish induces spell-binding minerality. With no traces of sulphites, excluding those that occur naturally, this a supreme showcase of polished natural viticulture.