6 bottles. 1 bottle of each. Non amendable
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Domaine Bobinet ‘Les Gruches’ Chenin Blanc 2019
Eméline Calvez and Sebastien Bobinet farm 1.8 hectares in the limestone riverbanks of Saumur, crafting win es of heightened aromatics and stoney minerality. In addition to their winemaking talents the pair have been campaigning hard for better viticultural practices in the region. So in an effort to improve the biodiversity of the vineyards, they have helped to engage and unite the local wine community to name Saumur-Champigny as the first AOC in France to collectively decide on the reduction of chemical treatments. The name ‘Greta Carbo’ is a giveaway of the mode of vinification. This is Chenin Blanc from the domaine’s oldest vines between 65-80 years old. Dense and expressive white Saumur that expresses it’s limestone terroir with power. It’s a rich wine, showcasing the depths attainable with the combination of vine age, healthy soil and long élevage.
Mark Angeli ‘Les Vielles Vignes des Blanderies’ Chenin Blanc 2015
Mark Angeli planted ‘La Ferme de la Sansonnièrre’ in the 1980’s, one of France's, if not the world's, most complex Biodynamic vineyards. He converted his plots to bush vines - almost unheard of in cooler growing regions. Leading the natural wine movement with Nicolas Joly in the Loire Valley, Mark now works with his son Martial, and winemaker Bruno Ciofi, producing precise and complex wines. Volcanic sulphur from Etna is used to reduce usage of S02 almost by half. This top cuvée of the domaine comes from plantings from 1949, aged in barrels for 2 years. Chenin Blanc lovers, rejoice. This is so concentrated and terroir-true. Honey, apricot, apple, jasmine, thyme, papaya, mango, gunpowder and baked oranges on the nose. High acidity, full bodied, rich, dense, creamy and incredibly well balanced. Incredible.
Domaine du Collier 'Charpentrie' Saumur Blanc 2017
Antoine Foucault is making some of the most exciting wines in the Loire Valley. Domaine du Collier was created in 1999 by Antoine (son of Charly Foucault from the famed Clos Rougeard) and his wife Caroline. There is a substance to these wines that is impressive, but more importantly there is a clarity to them, a precision that demands attention. These are powerful, mineral wines, wines that do not assault the palate, but seek to impress on grounds of their brilliant composition rather than forceful flavour or aroma. "La Charpenterie", from the oldest (100+ yr) vines, which delivers more concentration and the extra dimesion that old vines deliver. It is a fabulous, fabulous wine.
Francois St. Lô ‘Hey Gamin’ Gamay 2020
Francois St-Lô’s magical domaine ‘La rue des belles caves’ sits in Anjou, in the Loire Valley. It boasts a labyrinth of underground caves, an almost prehistoric cellar and an 18th century wine press, Francois manages to make transformative, character-filled wines using his few hectares worked with his horse. Gamay from 40 year old vines, zero S02. Wow, ethereal magic on the palate. Watch it dance and sing, it’s a joyous, expressive Gamy full of life and energy.
Domaine Bobinet ‘Les Landes’ Cabernet Franc 2017
Eméline Calvez and Sebastien Bobinet farm 1.8 hectares in the limestone riverbanks of Saumur, crafting win es of heightened aromatics and stoney minerality. In addition to their winemaking talents the pair have been campaigning hard for better viticultural practices in the region. So in an effort to improve the biodiversity of the vineyards, they have helped to engage and unite the local wine community to name Saumur-Champigny as the first AOC in France to collectively decide on the reduction of chemical treatments. ‘Les Landes’ is a truly unique wine in the Bobinet line up. The vineyard is 55 years old and extremely low yielding producing a wine of power and density that is immediately identifiable in a line up of their wines. Classic, old-school Cabernet Franc.
Domaine du Collier Saumur Rouge 'La Ripaille' 2017
Antoine Foucault is making some of the most exciting wines in the Loire Valley. Domaine du Collier was created in 1999 by Antoine (son of Charly Foucault from the famed Clos Rougeard) and his wife Caroline. There is a substance to these wines that is impressive, but more importantly there is a clarity to them, a precision that demands attention. These are powerful, mineral wines, wines that do not assault the palate, but seek to impress on grounds of their brilliant composition rather than forceful flavour or aroma. "La Ripaille" is a masterful take on Cabernet France, a very diffcult grape to master. It has a booming resonance yet remains incredibly precise and finely detailed and needless to say that fans of the wines of the Clos Rougeard will find lots to like.