2021 Domaine de la Grande Colline Bibendum Blanc

Domaine de la Grande Colline's 2021 Bibendum Blanc is a 100% Clairette white from Saint-Gervais in the Northern Rhône, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel with minimal sulfur intervention. Hirotake Okazaki farms the vines organically on clay-limestone soils, and the wine represents his minimalist approach to natural winemaking—texture-driven, soft, and refined rather than the sharply acidic profile you might expect from the region. This bottle was selected for the Off Premise Wine Club, and it's a rare chance for Chicago drinkers to experience one of the Northern Rhône's quieter, more contemplative expressions of Clairette. Okazaki's path to St. Peray is unusual: he studied chemistry in Japan, then oenology in Bordeaux, rising to Chief of Vineyard Management at Guigal before spending weekends working alongside the legendary Thierry Allemand. In 2001, he established his own domaine in a cave carved into the mountainside where mushrooms grow on barrels—details he views not as rustic charm but as integral to the wines' terroir. He hand-harvests every vintage, allows spontaneous fermentation to run its course, and intervenes only when necessary. The Bibendum Blanc is emblematic of his philosophy: organic farming, native yeasts, and just enough SO2 to keep the wine stable without masking its character. The Saint-Gervais vineyards sit at elevation, and the clay-limestone base lends both structure and minerality without weight. The 2021 vintage pours a pale straw color and delivers juicy flavors of white peach, Asian pear, and lemon wrapped in honeysuckle and white flowers. The texture is the wine's calling card—soft, supple, effortlessly drinkable—making it approachable for natural-wine skeptics and compelling for devotees. Pair it with grilled fish, roast chicken with herbs, or a simple platter of summer vegetables and soft cheese. It's a wine that rewards quiet attention but doesn't demand it, equally at home on a Tuesday night or at a more deliberate tasting. The finish is clean, gently saline, and lingers without heaviness. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.