Wines

Also known as Domaine des Aubuisieres, this wine is one of our great 'house' Vouvrays, a lovely expresison that is tendre in style, riding that perfect line between sec and demi-sec. A delight!

Domaine de I’R runs along the picturesque Vienne river in the region of Chinon, the heart of Cabernet Franc country. Founded in 2007 by Frédéric Sigonneau, the young winery quickly climbed the ranks to become a top producer of Cabernet Franc. The popularity of his wines is no surprise, as the estate has raised the bar for what Carnet Franc can offer through its sincere attention to taste and quality. The vineyard is managed as naturally as possible, working in harmony with the natural elements to produce a red wine with exceptional flavor and utmost purity. Throughout the entire winemaking process, there are no compromises, and the wines undergo frequent tastings during vinification. Healthy grapes are fermented in raw cement tanks, the porosity of which allows for a smooth, controlled, and gradual fermentation producing an incredibly rich and flavorful red wine.

Long time best friends Jean-Baptiste Bonnigal and Stéphane Bodet first cut their teeth in the industry in Saint-Émilion. After getting their diplomas, Stéphane stayed in Saint-Émilion, while Jean-Baptiste headed to New Zealand and Australia. 

JB eventually returned to his native Loire and spent several years working with François Chidaine in Montlouis-sur-Loire. He remains closely tied to the Chidaine family as he is married to François' daughter. In 2016, he took over his family estate in Amboise and invited Stéphane to join him in the project.

From the get-go, the two friends were aligned in their vision in making wines with purity and precision as well as their commitment to farming organically and biodynamically. Their farming practices including hoeing every two weeks to aerate the soil and encourage microbial life, treating the vines only as required, thinning leaves, and harvesting manually. Fermentations are always with native yeasts and with their sparkling wines, tirage is done at the domaine.

20-50 year old vines. Clay with flint, clay on limestone soils.
Vinification & Aging: Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel, aged on the fine lees for 6 months. No malolactic fermentation.

From the importer: Les Perrières’ is the Bretons' greatest red, from one of the most prized hillside parcels in Bourgueil. These old vines give very low yields of 20 hectoliters/hectare on average.

This cuvée comes from the 2nd harvest of riper fruit selected at the end of September from their 10 acre estate. The riper grapes are harvested then vininfied in a dry, yet ample style. The sandstone terroir brings a density to the wine whilst preserving tension. 

One of the greatest Cabernet Francs from the Loire Valley...and it's only $25!

Benoît et Celine Blet cultivate 10 hectares of biodynamically farmed vineyards in Oiron (département Deux-Sèvres in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, about 50 kilometers south of Saumur) that are planted with Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Gamay de Bouze. The domaine was founded in 2004, and I am always blown away by the huge personality of the wines that will be even finer and more complex after some years in the bottle. This is one of my favorite Loire producers, but unfortunately, I have never managed to visit the domaine. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

For our money the best 'Pet-Nat' on the planet. 100% Chenin...

Pretty much our 'house' Vouvray from 45+ year-old vines crafted in a tendre style, with about 2% residual sugar. Not 'sweet', not 'dry', just right...

94 Points! Darker in its ruby color, the 2019 Laurasie is a pure Cabernet Sauvignon from almost 20-year-old vines on the stony Jurassic plateau of Fosse-Sèche, where yields are not bigger than 20 hectoliters per hectare. This is fleshy and concentrated yet pure, fresh and elegant on the deep, terroir-driven and beautifully floral (violets) as well as graphitic nose that is absolutely distinctive in its delicate, pure and balanced style. Black and blue berries, dark cherries, green paprika, pencil lead and herbal, wet gravelly notes lead to a medium to full-bodied, highly elegant, refined and perfectly balanced palate that exhibits perfectly ripe, round and juicy fruit with a firm but ripe, very fine and elegant tannin/acidity complex. The finish of this concentrated red is tight, intense and spicy, showing black berry and chocolate as well as graphite and coal with dark cherry notes. Irresistible and, in 2019, possibly the finest wine from Fosse-Sèche. The wine was aged for 12 months in concrete eggs. Tasted in January 2021. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

92 Points! The 2021 La Grande Pièce is derived from Chenin Blanc planted on sandstone and pouddingue soils within the Quarts-de-Chaume appellation but vinified as a dry wine. It reveals a flinty, reduced bouquet with aromas of vanilla pod, grapefruit, ripe orchard fruits and spring flowers, followed by a fleshy and incisive palate, enveloping and charming, a tense and perfectly balanced mid-palate and a mineral, saline, long finish. Matured for 12 months in barrels and terracotta containers. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

95 Points! The 2021 Zerzilles is its usual powerful self, lying in wait like a lioness to pounce on her prey for her hungry lion cubs. It has a sudden spurt of power and energy striking through the palate. While light in body, it has innate power, masses of concentration and an electric charge of crackling acidity. This is a pup of a wine that's going to need time. - Rebecca Gibb, Vinous Media