Never ones to stop experimenting, Petit Prince is a stunning new La Tangente cuvée that pushes the idea of multiple terroirs further, here taking grapes from the Gard, Vaucluse and the southern Ardèche and bringing them together to combine their delicate infusion style with the structure of whole-bunch.
Cinsault & Carignan see the latter treatment, macerated for ten days and then blended into a separate vinification where an uncommon combination of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo has been gently extracted by dropping a selection of complete bunches into their directly-pressed juice. After 7 months together in steel tank it was then moved to and old foudre barrel for 10 months before bottling with no additions.
This complex blend of grapes and processes shines through in the finished wine and its multi-layered detail. Aromatics balance brighter, higher tones of red fruits with savory 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 a lovely soft edge. An initial fresh crunch, leads into riper, raisinated notes then the tertiary notes of the barrel follow, in three distinct phases. An accomplished exercise that whilst drinking well now will only improve the longer it is laid down.
Patricia and Rémi Bonneton
L’Alezan & La Tangente are the twin projects of Patricia and Rémi Bonneton, based in the rugged hills of northern Ardèche. Working from the steep, remote slopes of the Doux Valley, the pair farm a small but growing estate rooted in manual labor, animal traction, and an uncompromising commitment to natural winemaking.
The domaine currently spans roughly 2.5 hectares of organically farmed vines, with plans to expand to four. The Bonnetons began their journey with their first parcel in 2013 and released their initial estate wines in 2016 under the L’Alezan label. To support the domaine while it grows, they also work as négociants, sourcing organic fruit from close friends and like-minded growers to produce wines under the La Tangente name.
Rémi Bonneton grew up in Hermitage, immersed in a culture of wine through family and community, even though his own family did not own vineyards. With land prices prohibitive, he found an alternative path into viticulture by working with horses, offering plowing services to local growers. This work gave him deep practical knowledge of soils, vines, and landscapes, and gradually opened the door to renting his own parcels. Along the way, he honed his skills through formative experiences with producers such as Pierre Gonon and Alatache.
Patricia Bonneton came to wine from a different background, having worked in marketing and recruitment before discovering natural wine in 2012. Drawn to the physicality of farming and the idea of working the land by hand and horse, she and Rémi began building the project together, guided and supported by a close network of friends and mentors including Babass, the Robinots, Philippe Jambon, Fabien Bergeron, Lilian Bauchet, Pascal Potaire, and Domaine des Miquettes.
The vineyards lie on some of the steepest slopes in the Doux Valley, a dramatic and demanding environment where everything is done manually or with horses. Farming here is a constant challenge, shaped by wildlife pressure, violent hailstorms, and even nearby forest fires. These conditions demand resilience and attention, and they leave a clear imprint on the wines.
In 2018, Patricia and Rémi acquired a house with an old winery and cellar, which they have since carefully renovated. In the cellar, the approach is resolutely hands-off: spontaneous fermentations, no fining or filtration, no additions, and no sulfites. Wines are aged in a mix of tank, old barrels, and increasingly amphora, with the goal of transparency and structure rather than easy immediacy.
The wines of L’Alezan and La Tangente are serious, expressive, and grounded in place—shaped as much by the intensity of their environment as by the patience and conviction of the people behind them.
