A fruitful encounter
RECIPE - From market stall to table: where the sea meets the cellar.
In each edition of The Journal, we share recipes that bring flavours and stories together. This time, the journey takes us to Bordeaux and Chablis, where Olivier de Butler and Mathieu Crosnier reflect on the fruits of their labour at Bonne Mer. They create a dialogue between the briny depth of black mullet, the crisp freshness of R de Rieussec, and the saline tension of William Fèvre’s Grands Crus.
A very eloquent nose
An interview with assemblage expert Alexandre Schmitt.
Alexandre Schmitt made a dramatic shift from the world of haute parfumerie to another field equally bound to aroma: wine blending. He shares the essence of his sensory-driven approach—and explains why training your nose is essential to tasting wine.
2025: a Five-Star Vintage
The grape harvest, that annual event, a story that is halfway human, halfway fruit.
Fermentations: The invisible revolution
An interview with philosopher Anne-Sophie Moreau.
Philosopher and journalist Anne-Sophie Moreau explores, in her latest book, Fermentations, the deeper reasons behind today’s passion for micro-organisms.
Grape glossary
ASSEMBLAGE - An A-Z of grape-related expressions and proverbs from across the world.
In our cellars, we blend grape varieties; in this article, we blend proverbs. From Japan to Italy, from Greece to Spain, the grape runs through languages and imaginations. Each line reveals a shard of culture, a flavorful metaphor, a way of naming this fruit that brings us together. Like a blend of voices from across the world.
The nectar of the gods
From Soma to sake, we indulge in the eternal drinks that have fuelled gods, myths, and perhaps even us.
A voyage through the sacred drinks of myth and ritual, from vanished nectars to sips that still promise transcendence.
The notes between the notes
Why music and wine make the perfect duet.
A wine can be tasted with the ears as much as with the palate. And that’s why music can alter the way we perceive a vintage.
Late bloomers
Assemblage - Wines that defied first impressions.
In each issue’s ‘Assemblage’ section, we compose a blend of shorter snippets relating to a theme. This time, we explore forgotten or misunderstood vintages that, with the passing of time, revealed their true brilliance. Like certain songs or works of art that only find their audience years after their debut, these wines waited patiently—until the moment was right for them to be truly appreciated.
Crustaceans, Shellfish, and Crêpes Soufflées
Recipes
Our aim? To provide you with ideas on how to combine and enhance the world of aromas and flavours.
Golden light: London meets Château Rieussec
Sauternes has a reputation of being an after-dinner or dessert wine. But Château Rieussec is here to challenge that stereotype. Join Mathieu Crosnier, our Estate Manager on an enlightening journey to London.