LVT 2008 r Rustic, hidden away in the area near Montélimar

LVT 2016 r 2016 wh  Young couple who worked at the well-known Domaine de l’Arlot at Nuits-Saint-Georges in Burgundy from 1998 to 2011. Both Olivier and Florence are agricultural engineers, Olivier an oenologue; they met during their studies. Their holiday house in the Ardèche permitted them to get to know the region, and in 2010 they bought an old vineyard from a Co-operateur who had stopped using weedkillers on his 18.5 hectares of terraced limestone-clay vines that stand between 80 and 180 metres on the hill immediately to the north of the galet stone soils of Mas Libian at St Marcel d’Ardèche. Officially organic since 2014 and biodynamic since 2015. These are two people who know exactly what they are doing.

The range is all Vin de France or occasionally IGP Ardèche. Harvesting by hand in small boxes at early dates, refrigerated lorries to transport the harvest, natural yeasts, often 40-80% whole bunches, juice run off the press by gravity, low SO2 use here. There are now 21.5 hectares. The name Accoles is Occitan for Terraces. The range is interesting and successful, with ***(*) wines present, and one ****, the 2015 Miocène red [75% Gren, 25% Carignan]. I would highlight their work with the Carignan, serving elegant, tender styling from their 1960s vineyards, the fruits of their experiences in Burgundy. There is a rare 2,200 bottle white made from Carignan gris, called L’Inattendu [the unexpected]. All wines also come in magnum versions.

LVT 2008 r Good, authentic old Ardèche Gamay, faithful to its locality. Cleanly made wines, also Syrah, Cab etc. Viognier for white.

LVT 2009 r Young couple, active bloggers, making vin de table from Côtes du Rhône vineyards. Matt is Cisco Systems, Amy is ex-Kermit Lynch. Slowly improving wines. Low sulphur, organic. A white from Roussanne and Clairette has been added.

LVT 2017 r 2017 wh 2017 rosé  All wines are Coteaux de l’Ardèche. This is an organic 25 hectare domaine, where the family worked within the Co-operative of Valvignères until 1981, when they started to vinify. Before that, they worked en polyculture – with cereal and fruit also. They have been organic since 2009, officially so since 2012. Some wines are SO2 free, according to vintage. The range encompasses 12 wines, whose trademark is very good purity and clarity, befitting of the clay-limestone Ardèche soils and elevation. Sébastien does the vinification, his cousin Denis is the commerce. One-third of the vineyard is 40 years or older. I prefer the unadorned concrete vat raised reds, with the Carignan very good, over the oak raised ones. A name that is recommended.