18 November, 2022
In Aaron Ayscough’s informative »The World of Natural Wine« which came out this year there is a section in which the author introduces the various wine regions of France and (some of) their (most famous and respected) winemakers. I used his guide to buy bottles of vigneron:es mentioned in the »Loire« and »Roussillon« chapters from Vins Chez Nous, a French natural wine online shop with a huge selection of wines from all over France (and beyond). Unfortunately, only three of four boxes arrived but 18 wines were more than enough, taking into account that Thomas and his friends provided bottles, too! I didn’t take a lot of notes, unfortunately, so this is more of (another) photo gallery.
Our friend Clement Deuve has made his first pet nat and was wondering whether he should bottle it. We thought it was perfect! I liked the 0,375l bottle he had brought with him
Domaine Perrault-Jadaud »Chon-Chin’«, 2022: their first Primeur, brought to us by the winemakers themselves. 85% Côt, 15% Chenin. Lovely!
Domaine de l’Ecu »Carpe Diem«, 2018: a superb Melon de Bourgogne from the Muscadet which our friend Emmanuel Roblin brought with him. He works at the domaine (and makes his own wine with Ecu’s Fred and Claire Niger under the name Ab Initio)
Bonnett Cotton »Gamay«, 2021: a perfect Gamay from Beaujolais which we all loved
Casot des Mailloles »Médée«, 2021: a fine and light Syrah from Banyuls sur Mer
Le Temps des Copains »Rostro«, 2019: straight and clear, 100% Cinsault, raised in amphorae by Domaine Milan and Domaine de l’Ecu for Ecu’s collaborative project
Les Foulards Rouges »La Soif du Mal«, 2021: 100% Grenache from the Roussilon. A joy to drink!
Hervé Villemade »Pivoine«, 2020: 100% Côt from nearby. Metallic, bloody… bloody fantastic!
Catherine Riss »Empreinte«, 2020: a Pinot Noir that I sadly didn’t enjoy because of its high volatility
Christian Venier »Le Clos de Carteries«, 2020: a dense Cheverny assemblage of Pinot Noir and Gamay from the always-reliable Venier
Albert Boxler »Grand Cru Sommerberg«, 2017: an expensive Alsatian Riesling. Quite good
Vinyer de la Ruca »Kick-off«, 2019: an intern’s wine, mainly made from Grenache Noir grapes. Vinified by Francesco Pesci who interned for two years at the beloved domaine. Well done!
Le Raisin et l’Ange »Nedjma«, 2021: Gilles and Antonin Azzoni created an assemblage of 40% Chardonnay, 20% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne, 10% Ugni Blanc and another 10% of Villard Blanc. Fresh and exciting, a wine to have again in summer!
Domaine Perrault-Jadaud »Les Grives Soûles«, 2020: a complex Vouvray Chenin Blanc from our friends Anne-Cécile and Tanguy
Domaine Le Temps Retrouvé »Syrah (Version Light)«, 2019: 100% Syrah, again from the Roussillon. Highly volatile, so not much fun to drink, unfortunately
Le Raisin et l’Ange »Hommage à Robert«, 2020: Gilles Azzoni’s legendary cuvée that turned Alex, the owner of our favourite wine bar in Tours, the »Dame Jeanne«, onto natural wine. 70% Merlot, 30% Gamay – Thomas and me had it at the bar and were mesmerized