The name Sin Prisa Sin Pausa comes from the Spanish colloquial idiom that means roughly “slowly but surely” or “easy does it.” The virtues of this gentle but determined philosophy become immediately apparent when you taste the beautiful wines of Robin Lambert and Eve Tardy, who, like many in our portfolio, are acolytes of Cyril Fhal. They are locals who have recently settled in the Fenouillèdes, up in the Val d’Agly, where the harsh Tramuntana winds vigorously aerate the vines - sometimes blowing so hard that the old gnarled vines break as a result. The touch of M. Fhal is apparent in the work of Robin and Eve. Cyril is known as one of the finest farmers in France, someone who is uncompromising when it comes to cultivating his vines and soils and who possesses prized biodiversity in his vineyards, which is admired the world over. Robin and Eve also have a special touch in caring for the vines, the soils, and the environments around their disparate parcels, which appear rugged and energized. They have also inherited, or rather learned, Cyril’s noted perfectionism and workaholism, dedicating themselves to their craft even to the point of forgoing the most simple of modern accommodations, like electricity at home, in order to pour more of their money back into purchasing parcels dotted around the valley. 

All of the parcels they’ve acquired were once worked chemically. Robin and Eve have assiduously applied themselves to revitalizing the microbiological balance that used to be present in the soils, a process that can take five years or more to complete fully, according to Robin. The couple, just like their mentor Cyril, use only traditional manual farming tools, eschewing the rough and imprecise mechanical advancements that so many vignerons rely on today instead. In their regenerative pursuit, they have largely eliminated the use of pesticides and herbicides, except for the low doses of copper and sulfur allowed by organic certification that can help protect their vines as they recover to full vigor and immunity. The goal is ultimately to limit the use of these products to next to nothing, and they’ve undertaken several projects, such as the planting of nitrogen-fixing trees, to naturally balance the environment without the use of herbicides. Because of the couple’s determined revitalization efforts, the vines and wines already show astronomical potential. These are indeed some of the most exciting young producers we’ve come across in our trips to France. The wines are made in a very minimal, low-intervention manner so that the brilliant work in the vines can shine through authentically without makeup. The couple also produce a line of négociant wines from organically grown grapes purchased from neighbors, and Eve heads up this vinification. We find their wines wholesome, nourishing, fresh, and pure. Good luck getting them, too. As they ramp up production on their small estate (2 ha by the way), we receive only tiny amounts. Thankfully, Robin has purchased several new parcels in 2024, and we can’t wait to see what they yield. 

Robin and Eve are quite special to our portfolio. They were the first to be open to working with us during the launch of our small company and have introduced us to a strong network of other like-minded winegrowers in the region (our own introduction to Robin and Eve fortunately came on the recommendation Cyril Fhal himself, doesn’t get much better than that). There are no shortcuts for them. Their hard work and talent pay off with stunning results. The slow and steady approach seems to be working. It’s good advice for all of us to heed: never stop moving forward, never give up, but always take your time, and don’t rush; hurried work is rarely good work. Remember now and then to enjoy a bottle of wine with friends, hopefully, one of Robin and Eve’s. Sin prisa, pero sin pausa.