Le Mazel
Cuvee Briand 2018
By a truly legendary winemaker in the Rhône valley comes ‘Briand’, a single varietal wine made from organically grown Grenache— filled with ripe berries, subtle earthy notes, pronounced spices, and marked tannins. A beautiful expression of terroir, this wine is unapologetically reminiscent of the French countryside. Unfiltered and unfined with absolutely nothing added, simple but meticulous, rustic but refined— the hallmarks of Gérald Oustric of Le Mazel.
Grape Variety: Grenache
Region: Rhône Valley, France
Tastes like: Ripe plums, bayleaf, black peppercorns, raisins
Best with: Camembert, pasta bolognese, grilled mushrooms, braised things
Size: 750 ml
Alc Content: 13%
made in france by
Le Mazel
Known as the Godfather of natural wine, Gérald Oustric has been running Domaine Le Mazel in Valvignières, southern Ardeche, since he took over for his father in 1982. He’s a living legend that nearly every Rhône Valley natural winemaker will bow to. These rustic wines are meant to be drank every day, on any occasion, in any setting.
a closer look
Behind the Bottle
Gérald Oustric has been practicing organic farming on his 30 hectares since he took over the family winery, finally reaching certified status in 2000. Pruning and tending to his vines entirely by hand, showing immense respect to his limestone, clay, and sandy soils. Today, he runs Le Mazel with his sister Jocelyn, producing 50-60,000 bottles a year, with long carbonic maceration in neutral containers before aging in steel and oak, and zero sulfites.