Julien Peyras took the vines his grandfather had tended near Paulhan and turned them into a banner for additive-free natural wine.
Backstory
A native of Paulhan in the Languedoc, Julien comes from a family of vignerons and farms vineyards once owned by his paternal grandfather. Having previously sold his Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan and Grenache to the local cooperative, he began making and bottling his own wine in 2007. His neighbors, the Belhassen family of Domaine Fontedicto, helped guide his transition toward farming and winemaking as naturally as possible.
The Region
The estate sits near the village of Paulhan, northeast of Beziers in the Languedoc in southern France, a warm Mediterranean zone well suited to the region's traditional grape varieties.
Vineyards and Farming
Julien farms around 8 hectares organically, working many vines that are more than 40 years old. His plantings include Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne.
Winemaking
He is a member of the S.A.I.N.S. group, committed to using no added sulfur at any stage. His wines are made without additives, unfined and unfiltered, allowing the fruit and place to come through unmasked.
The Wines
His label, La Dame Jeanne, produces gluggable, expressive cuvees such as Gourmandise and Seraphin, the kind of honest, drinkable natural wines that have earned him a devoted following.
