Patricia & Rémi Bonneton | Wayward Wines

Producers

Patricia & Rémi BonnetonArdèche, France

Rémi Bonneton started working the vineyards of the Northern Rhône in the early 2000s, not tending vines or harvesting grapes, but working with his two horses, Suspens and Palynka, offering his unique services to plough the soils at some of the most coveted domaines in this part of France. After making a little of his own wine along the way, cut to 2013 and Rémi and Patricia, his wife, found their very first vineyard parcel of Syrah on the steep slopes of the Doux Valley right at the very northern tip of the Ardèche, which despite the sheer terracing is still worked à la Bonneton: by horse and plough. It’s physical, demanding work and no light undertaking - perfect for Rémi who in his previous life was a professional rower.

Their domaine totals just under 2 hectares and includes another parcel close to Tournon Sur Rhône planted with Roussanne and Marsanne, sitting opposite the iconic vineyards of Cornas and Saint-Joseph. The vines see no chemical treatments and this approach is followed into the cellar where fermentations occur spontaneously and have nothing added - the wine using grapes from these vineyards is bottled as L’Alezan. As they start to work towards their ambitious visions for the future (a big conversion build for their own cellars at their farmhouse in Etables, an experimental planting of Albariño, acquiring more parcels) they buy grapes from other growers further afield to up their production - these wines are bottled as La Tangente.

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton Wines

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
L'Alezan 'Merci' 2023

The super-fine bubbles are pinprick but persistent, buoying the gummy strawberry fruits of the Syrah on a little cushion of air. The addition of the white grape creates a lovely brick-tinged, amber-blush colour in the glass, and carries through into spicy, textural stone fruits. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Syrah & Marsanne
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£34

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
L'Alezan 'Suspens' 2022

Patricia & Remi's domaine white is a distinctly Northern Rhône affair; an equal blend of Marsanne & Roussanne from a single tiny plot, sitting a stone's throw from the river bend where the storied appellations of the region converge. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Marsanne & Roussanne
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£46

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
La Tangente 'Expérience' 2021

With time to age, the dusty perfume of the wine has developed into something akin to a savoury Jura Pinot, intense with liquorice, allspice and earthy tones. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Cinsault & Gamay
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£25

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
La Tangente 'Ho'oponopono' 2022

A maceration of Viognier, Marsanne & Roussanne grown over limestone, acquired from the Gard in the south. A powerfully structured wine, balancing a relatively low gravity with bold, mouth-coating tannins. A hazy, sandy gold in the glass, there is an abundance of intense apricot fruits with a peach iced tea-like quality that lends real dryness to the palate as it tails into a long, herbal finish. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Viognier, Marsanne & Roussanne
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£33.50

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
La Tangente 'Ho'oponopono' 2023

A hazy, sandy gold in the glass, there is an abundance of intense apricot and pineapple fruits with a peach iced tea-like quality and long, herb-flecked finish. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Viognier, Marsanne & Roussanne
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£34

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
La Tangente 'Ostara' 2023

The Grenache and Cinsault bring their particular brand of spice, taking things into a herbal direction in the finish, with pleasing bitters to cut the palate and balance out the abundance of gummy fruit. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Grenache, Syrah & Cinsault
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£29.50

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
La Tangente 'Petit Prince' 2023

Aromatics balance brighter, higher tones of red fruits with savoury mushroom in a way that hints at something Burgundian. Texturally, the wine is slick, plush and elegant, giving the dusty cherry fruits and unexpected citrus peels an lovely soft edge. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache, Syrah & Tempranillo
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£34

Quantity

Patricia & Rémi Bonneton
La Tangente 'Potion' 2021

A distinctly Mediterranean-leaning affair with this cuvée, made using Carignan harvested in Luberon. The name Potion came from the wine's tonic quality - it is so easy to drink and bursts with spicy, sun-kissed fruits. A compelling, lip-smacking red. Find out more.

  • Region Étables, Ardèche, France
  • Grapes Carignan
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£27.25

Quantity