François Cazin Cheverny Blanc ‘La Petit Chambord’ 2019

14.3% abv, Cheverny, imported by Louis Dressner Selections & LDM Wines, Inc., New York, NY. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.  Winemaking notes: 80% Sauvignon Blanc & 20% Chardonnay, vines on average 30 years of age, grown on clay and limestone soils. The varieties are vinified separately and aged in concrete tanks before assemblage.  […]

Domaine des Chézelles Touraine Sauvignon 2020

12% abv, Philip Derouet, Noyers-sur-Cher, imported by MISA Imports Inc., Dallas, TX. Cork closure: composite. Biodynamic calendar: fruit day. Winemaking notes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented in stainless steel with natural yeast, and no sulfur addition until bottling. Aged on the lees for 4 months. Tasting note: pale lemon in color with a clean nose of […]

Couly-Dutheil Chinon ‘Clos de l’Echo’ Rouge 2017

14.5% abv, Armand et Jacques Couly-Dutheil, Chinon, imported by Serendipity Wines, Austin, TX. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.  Winemaking notes: 100% Cabernet Franc. Organic. Grapes are destemmed and fermented for 30-days on the skins. Legendary Clos planted in the 9th century on a limestone and clay plateau.  Tasting note: the ‘Clos de l’Echo’ […]

Domaine Pascal Janvier Jasnières 2019

13% abv, Ruillé, imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA. Cork closure: composite. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.  Winemaking notes: 100% Chenin Blanc from 40-year-old vines, from a 6-ha vineyard on limestone and clay. “The Janviers rent sixty-six different parcels (a total of nine hectares) of land and farm it entirely themselves. Jasnières produces some of […]

Charles Joguet Chinon ‘La Cure’ 2014

12.5% abv, Sazilly, imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: Flower day. Winemaking notes: 100% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are sourced from parcels Clos de la Cure and Clos de la Chappelle on gravel and clay soils, 35-year old average. Cold skin maceration lasts for five days. Fermentation lasts for 15 days at […]

Charles Joguet Chinon Blanc ‘La Plante Martin’ 2017

13% abv, Sazilly, imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: flower day. Winemaker note: 100% Chenin Blanc grown on limestone and clay in a 3-hectare vineyard site. Barrel-fermented in 30% new French oak with battonage for six months before assemblage and bottling. Tasting note: the 2017 ‘La Plante Martin’ […]

Domaine Pichot Vouvray Brut Méthode Traditionnelle NV

12% abv, Jean-Claude et Christophe Pichot, Vouvray, imported by Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL. Cork closure: composite. Biodynamic calendar: flower day. Winemaking notes: 100% Chenin Blanc from younger vines, fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees for 36 months before disgorgement. No dosage added. Tasting note: the Brut Vouvray is pale gold in color […]

Pascal Janvier Coteaux du Loir Rouge ’Cuvée du Rosier’ 2019

13.5%abv, Ruillé, imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA. Cork closure: composite. Biodynamic calendar: fruit day. The relatively unknown appellation of Châteaux du Loir is on the northern reaches of the Touraine region on the Loir River (not to be confused with Loire) and is planted to about only 70 hectares of vines. The […]

Château de Miniere Bourgueil 2014

12.5% abv, Ingrades de Touraine, imported by VinAccess International LLC, San Rafael, CA. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.  Winemaking note: “100% Cabernet Franc, 40-50 year-old vines organically farmed on gravel on a clay-limestone and clay-silicon terrace; limestone bedrock of the upper Turonian ( 93 to 89 million years ago), covered with a more […]

Domaine du Viking Vouvray ‘Tendre’ 2017

13.5% abv, Gauthier-Lhomme, Reugny, imported by European Cellars LLC, Charlottes NC. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: leaf day.  Winemaking notes: “100% Chenin Blanc grown on silex (flint) soils, and produced in the tendre (off-dry) style. Chestnut is favored for the barrels although more and more wine is being vinified in tank these days. Indigenous yeasts […]