Parlange & Illouz, Haute Piece, 2022

Originally from the région parisienne Jérémie Illouz got the wine bug drinking his way through the capital’s vibrant scene. During his studies Jérémie befriended his business partner Paul Parlange. Convinced by the huge potential of the underrated Cahors AC he moved there in 2008 and agreed to start by buying in grapes on one condition: they had to be grown without any chemicals. Jérémie never wanted to be a negociant but he had a plan - in order to make ends meet, learn about the different terroirs and make the right contacts he’d buy grapes and make wine while patiently waiting for the right opportunity. His dream came true in 2012 when he was able to buy 2.5ha as well as leasing another 3. In search of finesse and lifted aromatics, his practices are definitely not in line with the Cahors AOC body which, for example, bans the use of stems. They decided to declassify his 2013s as the colour was not dark enough. Fed up with this bureaucracy he decided to drop the AOC all together and decided to label all wines as VDF going forward.