No Control Pour 2 Pinot Noir 2024

Originally from Normandy and working in sports marketing, Vincent Marie's path to winemaking began with a single glass. In 2003, he tasted natural wine for the first time—one of those revelatory moments that shifted everything. Over the following years, meetings with winemakers like Claude Courtois at natural wine fairs in Caen deepened his conviction that this was his calling.

Vincent earned his diploma in viticulture and oenology in Alsace in 2012, training alongside Patrick Meyer and Bruno Schueller. The work of Patrick Bouju in Auvergne particularly inspired him, and in 2012, he relocated to Volvic in the Puy-de-Dôme department—a town better known for its mineral water than its wine. He acquired his first 1.5 hectares of vines and founded No Control in 2013.

Today, the estate covers approximately 5 hectares across parcels ranging from 5 to 120 years old. The vineyards sit on varied volcanic terroirs—granite, basalt, and volcanic bedrock—at elevations that bring cool temperatures and significant day-night variation. Vincent added vines from the historic Château de Tournoël in 2015, expanding his holdings and range of expressions.

Gamay d'Auvergne dominates the portfolio, though Vincent also works with Pinot Noir, Syrah, Damas Noir, and white varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Auxerrois. The vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically, with manual soil work assisted by horse. Treatments are limited to sulfur, copper, and herbal preparations.

In the cellar, Vincent's approach is radically non-interventionist: native yeast fermentation, no additives from harvest to bottling, no fining, no filtration, zero sulfites. The wines are, as he describes them, simply fermented grape juice. The cuvée names reflect Vincent's passion for punk rock and heavy metal—Rockaille Billy, Tournoël Riot, Magma Rock, CBGB, Bullette dans ta Tête (a nod to Rage Against the Machine). Visit his cellar in Volvic, and the music matches the wines: loud, honest, and full of energy.

Tucked into the Massif Central in the heart of France, Auvergne is one of the country's oldest and most geologically distinctive wine regions. Technically part of the Loire Valley, this volcanic landscape has been producing wine since Roman times, though its bottles remain relatively unknown outside France. The regional capital, Clermont-Ferrand, sits surrounded by extinct volcanoes—the famous Puy de Dôme chain—whose ancient eruptions created the basalt, granite, and volcanic ash soils that define Auvergne's terroir.

The Côtes d'Auvergne AOC, granted official status in 2010, encompasses approximately 350 hectares across 53 communes. Five crus carry particular distinction: Châteaugay, Madargue, and Chanturgue to the north of Clermont-Ferrand; Corent (exclusively for rosé) and Boudes to the south. Boudes, the southernmost cru, features some of the steepest and highest vineyards, with century-old vines planted on dark basalt slopes at elevations reaching 700 meters.

Gamay dominates plantings, accounting for roughly half of all vineyard area. The local clone, Gamay d'Auvergne, ripens later than its Beaujolais counterpart, retaining freshness and acidity even in warm vintages—a trait increasingly valued as climate change reshapes European viticulture. Pinot Noir comprises about 20 percent of plantings and is often blended with Gamay. Chardonnay produces the region's white wines, which display a distinctive smoky minerality from the volcanic soils.

The semi-continental climate brings hot, dry summers and cold winters. A foehn wind effect from the surrounding mountains helps moderate westerly rainfall. Vineyards planted along the Allier River historically shipped wines to Paris, where they once enjoyed considerable prestige.

Today, Auvergne has become a destination for natural winemakers drawn to its volcanic soils and indigenous grape material. The wines typically offer bright acidity, peppery spice, and pronounced mineral character at approachable prices—making this region one of France's most compelling hidden treasures.