SHOPPIN' SPREE 🛍️ (BOURLIER + BURONFOSSE)

Source note: This post is adapted from Parched's October 6, 2026 newsletter

Hey,

What's going on? I've been busy tasting (again) and have plenty of wine on the current wish list. Shopping's fun, I recommend you do some too, so I can do some more.

Available now, and something to get excited about, are the fresh arrivals from Pierre Bourlier! Ardèche's hottest new vigneron. A region that, despite being loaded with talent, just doesn't get the love it deserves. Still seen by many as a wine wasteland in the middle of nowhere, those who pay attention to what's actually in the glass rather than the region on the bottle will know what's up. He's really just a stone's throw from St Joseph, and working here allows creativity and a clean slate for his clever concoctions. He currently has just 1.5 hectares and so production is minuscule. Most of the vines sit on steep terraced slopes of the Doux valley, characterised by sandy, granitic soils.

He works mostly with Gamay but has some little bits of a handful of other varieties at his disposal too. Here in the hills, cooler evenings help keep vibrancy after warm days. Vinification and cellar work ebbs and flows given the vintage, but the wines always have an ethereal and perfumed nature. Plans to take on new land and a cellar are in the works to satiate international demand, but for now it's just small amounts to go around. The simple labels are certainly no indication of the compelling liquid inside.

This is a good intro to the house style with really pretty perfume that you don't often associate with the grape. There's dark fruit but no heaviness and a lovely rustic structure on show. It's a perfect bistro wine. Things get more elegant and effortless here. A Gamay of altitude that sits somewhere between light red and rosé. My favourite kinda juice. It's tart and tense, with plenty of crunch and herbal charm. An infusion-style vinification means this is giving off big Danny Sage vibes in its drinkability. This is mainly a blend of Gamay and Pinot, but he's got a few rows of Poulsard, Pineau d'Aunis and Muscat here, cos why not. Intoxicating from the first sniff, this slowly reveals layers of minerality and earthen charm with each sip. Heady and again hard to put down. Check ‘em out, they’re good, I promise.

A small but mighty restock on some of the Buronfosse wines. One of my personal favourites from the region. They seriously punch above their weight, yet still seem to fly under the radar. Why these don't have the feverish hype behind them, yet all their neighbours in Rotalier do, is truly one of life's great mysteries to me. What's more is that I've never had a dud from these guys either. Wish it was the same across the rest of the Jura…

Tasting these from barrel was life-changing. In particular, a cuvée from the very hot lieu-dit of Soupois. This is the place to be. Tiny amounts of iconic Yellow Wine from them too. Finally, the rare and lesser-spotted Cidre du Jura too. Wild and captivating from their tiny orchard of just 300 trees. Usually just for personal consumption.

Maybe the best for last? We have a single and very rare pack of elite German wine here. It includes the truly unicorn Chardo from Aufricht alongside some of the country’s finest wein. There is never a fair way to share when quantites are just the one… The hype for Aufricht is crazy; I still have PTSD from when I tried to release these earlier in the year This time to be fair, it’s first in, best dressed. Just one. Why are you still reading this? Sorry if you missed out…

In other news, our Beaujolais party 5.0 is selling like hot cakes. Still tickets left, but at the rate we're moving through, it will only be a couple of weeks until they're all gone. Magnums of Brice? Yes pls.

More IRL news? This Sunday, and on Sundays through the rest of the month, you can now get your rotisserie cravings sorted over at Dan's. The Flock crew will be supplying their famed rotisserie chooks alongside a few add-ons that will be a vast improvement on your attempt at a Sunday roast. Full details can be found here. If you'd like to pre-order a chicken, we'll throw in a bottle of wine to wash it down with too! Pre-orders taken via their DMs. Slide in.

Ok G2G back to reality. Currently playing box Jenga in the warehouse.

Bisou,
Fionn
xoxo