These my recommendations if like me you are in Paris for 48h and are a big lover of natural wines ( and food of course).
1/Vivant Paris : vivant’s website
I have no words to describe how great the food in this down-to-earth tiny restaurant is: perfect cooking, taste, presentation and atmosphere . Great wine list.
Then comes the time to choose your wine for your meal …
We shortlisted the following 4 : Two wines from Beaujolais : L’herbe folle and Très vieilles vignes 2009 J-A Bloc, one wine from Auvergne : La Bohème 2015 from Patrick Bouju and a wine from Loire valley called Ange from Domaine de l’Ecu.
And the winner is .. from Beaujolais ..the extraordinary Gamay from Lilian & Sophie Bauchet – L’herbe folle !
Tasting note:
Funky on the nose ( exactly as I like it) , richly fruited on the palate, showing notes of cranberry jam that is quite lovely. Mild tannins. Rich acidity on the finish and that lovely lean cranberry note is here too. If it weren’t for that aroma this could be quite fantastic ( for some reasons the wine tends to taste too aromatic).
Who said that food needs to be complicated ? The simplest things are something the best.
As I mentioned Vivant is a very small restaurant with a marble bar where you can see the chef cooking just in front of you and a few tables behind:
2/ Breizh Café ( Breizh website )
One can’t go to Paris without having a crepe and a cider and in this place you can eat the best crepe of France !
3/ Natural wine and couscous ! Yes the combo is great
We have been invited for lunch by my childhood friend who is an artist living in Paris
Bottle of France Gonzalvez 2015 bought from the caviste The wine list on Boulevard Beaumarchais at 16euros.
4/ Best natural wines cellars in Paris
Now if like me you live in Sweden where alcohol is regulated by the state through the monopoly and if that monopoly cannot provide you with natural wine then you have no other choice then have a checked in luggage and buy your own wine !
Here is my selection ( or at least what my luggage’s space allowed me to get) :
- The wine list : 26 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011 Paris, France
The sommelier is a big fan of natural wine and the owner is really personable , we visited him twice and he opened wines for us to try – he said he opens 10 bottles per day so he knows what his sommelier select ! Great selection – different price
- La dernière goutte : 6 Rue de Bourbon le Château, 75006 Paris, France
Big selection of natural wines from the big names ( Bobbinet, Folliard, Matassa etc ) and non natural wines from great producer ( LaCroix Vanel) . Very good price for the location ( near Rue de Seine and Boulevard St Germain )
- Ma Cave Fleury : 177 Rue St Denis, 75002 Paris, France
Unfortunately it was closed when we were there , which is the issue with Paris many natural wine bars and stores are closed on the weekend .
- La Cave des papilles :35 Rue Daguerre, 75014 Paris, France
This is what we bought most of our orange and most funky wine – it is not far from the new Cartier Fondation, and in the neighbourhood where Simone de Beauvoir lived . A bit out of the way so not sure this can be my regular cellar . Found prices were too high and not reflecting the area
Here is my personal selection : stay tuned for the next article where I will tell you if these were worth it !
Finishing this article by what should have been the start: where to eat the best croissants in Paris :
I was sceptical at first but then I have to say that the croissant of La Maison Plisson ( website) were excellent ! Take away or eat in , I recommend this place !
tongue&cheeks 