Les Cailloux du Paradis - L'Icaunais 2022
Les Cailloux du Paradis - L'Icaunais 2022
A raw, vibrant expression of northern Loire purity
- Precise
- Crisp
- Mineral
- Pure
- Type
- Red
- Grapes
- Gascon
- Place
- Loire Valley, France
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How it tastes
In the glass
Distinct and earthy red with wild raspberry, smoky thread, and mineral tension.
Profile
Nose
Wild raspberry, subtle spice, gentle smoky thread.
Palate
Lively, well-integrated acidity gives clarity and lift. Soft, rounded tannins provide structure without heaviness. A hint of mineral tension and whisper of savoury undertones reflect flinty soils and extended barrel ageing.
Finish
Compellingly unique, standing apart from conventional Loire red profiles.
“A rare expression of almost forgotten Gascon aged 30 months in older barriques.”
How to serve
Getting the best out of it
How to pair it
This is a light red
Low tannin, lots of freshness: serve it slightly chilled and pair it almost like a white. No cheese, no fried food.
Match
Flavours that echo the wine.
- Mushrooms and earthy vegetables
- Poultry and white meat (roast chicken)
- Pulses (lentils, beans)
- Grilled meaty fish (tuna, salmon)
Contrast
Opposites that make each other better.
- Cured meats (salame, prosciutto)
- Fatty sausages
Careful with
Combinations that flatten the wine.
- Raw fish
- Very hot chilli
- Heavy stews
Terroir & winemaking
From the vineyard to the bottle
Gascon (locally known as Icaunais) from Soings-en-Sologne in Touraine, Loire Valley, grown on flinty clay and limestone soils.
- Vines
- 100% Gascon, an almost forgotten Loire variety, from organically farmed vineyards with biodynamic principles.
- Soils
- Flinty clay and limestone, contributing smoky character and mineral tension.
- Farming
- Organic and biodynamic viticulture encouraging biodiversity and natural balance.
- Cellar
- Hand-harvested grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts, followed by approximately 30 months of ageing in older barriques.
- Additions
- No added sulphites, no fining, no filtration.
Where it's from · Loire Valley, France
Sologne
Les Cailloux du Paradis sits around Soings-en-Sologne, near Cheverny in the Loire Valley — one of France’s most unusual terroirs for wine. Here, poor but living soils of flinty clay and quartz intermingle with pastures and woodland, so the land feels alive underfoot, feeding vines through deep root systems and natural moisture.
More from Loire Valley: a few picks
The winemaker · Sologne, Loire Valley, France (Vin de France)
Les Cailloux du Paradis
Artisan vignerons crafting wild, living wines from the heart of Sologne
Les Cailloux du Paradis was born from the vision of Claude Courtois, a true pioneer of natural wine who, over 20+ years ago, established a wine farm in the Sologne — a landscape of thin clay soils, woods, fields, and grasslands seldom associated with viticulture.
“In my wines, I have only grapes.”
- Style
- Natural, terroir-expressive reds & whites
- Vineyards
- ~13–18 ha interwoven with woodland & fields
- Farming
- No chemicals, biodiversity-first viticulture
- Grapes
- Gamay, Côt/Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Romorantin, Pineau d’Aunis & more
- Signature
- Long élevage, indigenous ferments, pure expression
Picked by us
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Good to know
Questions we get a lot
Is this a natural wine?
All our wines come from small growers who farm organically or biodynamically and keep intervention in the cellar to a minimum: native yeasts, little or no added sulphites. Every producer has their own approach; the details are in “From the vineyard to the bottle” above.
Why is it a bit cloudy, or is there sediment?
Many of our wines are bottled unfiltered. A light haze or some sediment is natural and harmless: stand the bottle upright for a few hours and pour gently.
How long does it keep once open?
It depends on the wine (see “Once open” above). As a rule: cork back in and keep it in the fridge, reds included.
When will my order arrive?
We ship Tuesday to Saturday, usually right away. In Germany delivery takes 2–3 working days; rates for every country are on our shipping page.
Can I pick up in Berlin?
Yes. Choose pickup at checkout and collect your order at our shop in Berlin.