Region: Rhone Valley, France
Appellation: Vin de France
Type/Style: Red Wine
Grapes: Syrah

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby-garnet in the glass, this 2022 opens with bright wild cherry, raspberry compote and just-ripe plum, layered with hints of black pepper and forest under-brush. On the palate it offers luscious fruit with a vivid acid backbone, supple yet refined tannins, and a subtle mineral thread that pushes the finish forward. It’s approachable now, yet has the structure and poise to evolve nicely for a few years.

Why It’s Special

• From the hillside vineyards of Domaine du Petit Bonhomme (run by winemaker Fabien Chanavas) in the Provence/Luberon region, this is a benchmark natural-wine style red that is crafted with care but remains accessible.

• Organic/low-intervention farming: ploughed by horse, no herbicides or pesticides, hand-harvested grapes, indigenous yeasts, bottled unfined or unfiltered and minimal sulphur — authenticity in the glass.

• For your boutique clientele this is exactly the kind of story-rich, terroir-driven red that bridges “fun and expressive” with “serious wine” — a go-to for both curious explorers and devoted fans of natural wine.

• Ideal on its own or paired with food: think herb-roasted lamb, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, or a shared platter of charcuterie and aged cheeses.

About the Producer

Domaine du Petit Bonhomme is the personal project of winemaker Fabien Chanavas. After years working in cooperatives, he established the domaine in 2018 and built it around a philosophy of agro-ecology and minimal intervention. The vineyard soils are clay-and-limestone with silt, the vines hand-tended, and the cellar work aimed at letting the site speak — no added aromas, no heavy manipulation. With the “Pitre” 2022 you’re getting one of his more serious reds: expressive, textured, full of personality. It embodies the notion that natural wine doesn’t mean casual—it means honest, vibrant and thoughtfully made.