August 7, 2026 | f r a n c e

We've been looking for any excuse to open a bottle of Le Chat Huant 'Gros Bec' Cinsault Rosé. Well, today is Friday and that feels like good enough of an excuse as any we've come up with so far. So with that bottle serving as the foundation for this week's theme, we figured we'd might as well double down and pad up the lineup with some other French cutie patooties.

(cutie patootie is a very technical wine term; i think robert mondavi coined the phrase? or perhaps james suckling?...)

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Domaine Schoffit Chasselas Alsace AOC Vieilles Vignes 2023
CERTIFIED ORGANIC + BIODYNAMICALLY GROWN

Chasselas? What did you just call me?! Relax, that's just the name of the most widely planted white grape variety in Switzerland! Known for its ability to create rich complexity, this grape offers a full range of fruit, florals, and shimmering minerality. Gets super sexy with age, due to its ripping acidity, developing nutty and slightly oxidative flavors. Fondue's bespoke pairing.

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Le Chat Huant 'Gros Bec' Cinsault Rosé Vin de France 2024
ORGANICALLY GROWN + LOW-INTERVENTION/NATURAL WINE

From importer Terrestrial Wine Co:
"Blandine Floch is a young and passionate winemaker based near the town of Blois in Touraine. She got her start in 2011 by helping in the vines and cellar of the legendary Olivier Lemasson, quickly falling in love with this new way of life. She eventually went on to train under the likes of Thierry Puzelat, Remi Dufaitre, Domaine du Scarabée, as well as natural pioneers Pheasant’s Tears and Artanuli Gvino in Georgia. These experiences equipped her with the skills she needed to return to the Loire Valley to start her own project, fueled by a love for pure farming and minimalist winemaking.

She currently farms 2.35 ha of rented vines from an assortment of parcels on the plateau above Monthou-sur-Bièvre, and supplements this with some purchased organic grapes. In 2021, due to historically low yields in the Loire Valley, Blandine, along with several other local vignerons, sourced some organic Grenache from the Gard region. In the cellar, she executes all vinifications via natural processes, with respect for the fruit, environment and final consumer. Fruit is meticulously harvested to ensure that only the healthiest and ripest grapes make the cut. All fermentations are done spontaneously with native yeasts, followed by aging in neutral wood, which allows the wines to breathe naturally. Only small amounts of sulfur are used at bottling, allowing the true terroir of the region and vintage to shine through in each cuvée produced."

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Michel et Tina Gassier Côtes du Rhône AOP 2023
CERTIFIED ORGANIC + LOW-INTERVENTION/NATURAL WINE

Nestled in the Costières de Nîmes AOC in the Southern Rhône, this 5th generation family-owned estate exists at the intersection of two distinct terroirs: the galets stones of Avignon and the marsh of Camargue, with the proximity of the Mediterranean offering a moderating influence on the heat of Southern France. This estate is a family affair, run by husband and wife team Michel and Tina, aided by the winemaking prowess of their daughter Isabel. Focusing on regenerative agriculture, their commitment to the environment is evidenced in their holistic approach to vineyard management. Interspersed throughout the vines are various plants that enhance the carbon content of the soil and aid in the development of organic matter. How rad! This Rhone-blend checks all of the boxes of a bistro bottle: Generously concentrate, fine-grained tannin, and earthy grounding spice.