The default mix of this trio is one bottle each of  red, white and rose.  These are super organic and biodynamic southern Rhone wines from Chateau l'Ermite d'Auzan where the focus is on clean and bright fruit.  There's no oak here.

If you would prefer a different mix please enter your preference in the "order notes" section during checkout - you can choose any 3 Ermite d'Auzan bottles and the price is the same whichever 3 bottles you prefer.

Rouge 2023 - 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 30% Grenache.  A flavoursome red showing raspberry fruit and a hint of spice.

Rose 2024 - 50% Grenache and 50% Cinsault.  A pretty salmon pink showing ripe summer berry fruit and a refreshing zing.

Blanc 2024 - 60% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc & 20% Viognier.  Dry and aromatic with a gently floral nose and a palate of ripe citrus and a hint of minerality.  This is a real star!

Innovation & Nature Working Together - Well Worth A Read...

Chateau l'Ermite d'Auzan was certified as organic in 2020 after a 3 year conversion period.  For the first 2 years organic rules must be followed but the wines cannot be labelled as organic during this period.  In year 3 the wines may be labelled as "in conversion to organic" and only in year 4 may the wines be labelled as organic.  In 2024 Chateau l'Ermite d'Auzan also became certified as biodynamic.

One of the biggest challenges that organic viticulturalists face is coping with outbreaks of powdery mildew and downy mildew on their vines.  Powdery mildew (known as oidium) may be treated with sulphur while Downy mildew (mildiou) is usually treated with copper sulphate and lime (known as Bordeaux mixture).  Preventative vineyard management is also important such as leaf thinning/canopy management and vines are often more widely spaced to improve airflow and reduce the risk of mildew.  This results in lower yields of course.  Spraying with sulphur and copper is permitted under organic rules, but the use of copper is strictly controlled with a limit per hectare per year.

There is general agreement that occasional use of sulphur is not detrimental to the vineyard but copper-based sprays are a different matter because copper does not easily break down in the soil and levels can build up over time.  Indeed, there was sufficient concern about the long-term effect of copper on vines that the sale of copper-based treatments is now heavily restricted in France.  This leaves organic producers with the problem of how to treat persistent outbreaks of downy mildew when the use of their main weapon against it is severely restricted .

After a lot of experimentation Tanguy Castillon has developed a system to protect their vines from mildew which is entirely natural.  As you'll see in Jerome & Tanguy's video (which you can find in the tasting notes for each of the wines above) they are using sprays made using essential oils to protect their vines.  Tanguy extracts these oils from aromatic plants and herbs grown on their estate including lavender, rosemary, oregano and thyme.  The plants are dried and then steam is passed through them in an alambic still.  The steam extracts the oils which rise to the surface of the water once the steam condenses.

Jerome & Tanguy have regularly tested the soil in the vineyards since 2019 and have noticed that the soil pH has dropped, and the percentage of organic matter has increased year on year.  Unlike copper treatments, the essential oil sprays are not absorbed by the vines, but just remain on the vine leaves providing the protection from mildew that they need.  They have to spray more frequently to maintain sufficient protection but stop once the warmer and drier weather arrives and the mildew risk has passed.  This is usually around mid-July so well in advance of the harvest.

This innovative approach at Chateau l'Ermite d'Auzan has attracted much attention from other organic producers who have been looking to replicate their process to protect their own vines, and it seems that essential oils from a wide variety of plants work equally well.  This means that that other vignerons  can use plants that grow naturally in their own respective vineyards.

Chateau l'Ermite d'Auzan work in harmony with nature, using essential oils to protect their vines from mildew.  This nature-guided approach reflects a quiet innovation which is spreading elsewhere so that botanical solutions may be employed to support the health of vines whilst preserving the surrounding ecosystem.

At Wines of Interest we have always maintained that it is worth paying a little bit more to get quite a lot better when it comes to wine, and the above story is an excellent illustration of what we mean.  What Jerome & Tanguy are doing is hard work.  They make their own natural vineyard treatments to protect their vines.  They have to spray more frequently as a result and yields are deliberately modest.  They are also skilled winemakers of course, but they are working with the best that nature can provide.  It is no accident that their wines are as good as they are.