For those who are fans of Henri Bonneau, Paolo Bea, Emidio Pepe, or any of the great iconoclasts who don't give a hoot about what anyone thinks and could run their own winemaking cult. Domaine Viret is truly a unique property with a winemaking philosophy like no other. Phillippe Viret and his father Alain practice a winemaking and farming philosophy known as Cosmoculture, which they developed together and are the only estate in the world that practices it. Cosmoculture is similar to biodynamics but also involves aligning and harnessing the energies of the universe and the metaphysical. The Virets believe that these practises bring a unique vibrancy to their wines and allow them to express the true terroir. Wines are aged in concrete or clay amphora for four years or more to allow all the flavors and structure to harmonize, and they are a blend of the classic Southern Rhone red grapes. Fun fact (as if the Cosmoculture wasn't interesting enough), the estate is built on a former ancient Roman quarry and also has an underground spring beneath it. The winery is made from the local stones in the quarry and was designed to resemble a cathedral. The Virets consider the "Renaissance" to be the wine that best represents the character of their estate. The "Emergence" is the estate's top wine, and it is aged in barriques for 24 months.