Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2020 Vin de France La Tesniere Pineau D'Aunis

This is a bold expression of Pineau d'Aunis from Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme, from vines near the Cher river  on clay with silex in organic and biodynamic farming. Aged in old futs and demi-muids, bottled without filtration, minimal SO2. The 2020 shows a pretty light red color with aromas of ripe raspberry and violets, really lovely. The palate is vibrant and bright with raspberry, cranberry and cherry with lip-smacking acidity and a beautifully refreshing finish of minerals and juicy red fruits. This is a delightfully refreshing and forward version of Pineau d'Aunis - serve cool!  David Lillie

Tue-Boeuf 2020 Vin de France Pineau d'Aunis

The Puzelats source tiny quantities of Pineau d'Aunis, mainly from neighbor vigneronne Valérie Forgues, who organically tends and hand harvests her hundred-plus-year-old vines. 2015 was their first vintage of this bottling. The wine is aged for 6 months in old barrels and was bottled and vinified with zero added sulfur. The aromas are floral with ripe raspberry, blackberry and blood orange, with pepper, brown spice, and animal notes. The palate is lush and bright with plum skin and blackberry fruit, very earthy firm acidity and berry fruits in the finish. Very delicious now, served cool, but probably best after a few years of cellaring -  a superb Pineau D'Aunis for lovers of natural wines. (2 cases available)

Le Briseau 2019 Vin de France Verre des Poetes

The Le Briseau 2019 "Verre des Poetes" from Nathalie Heredia, contains juice from over 100 year-old franc de pied vines. The color is a fairly light red/amber. The aromas are subtle and pretty with black raspberry, wild strawberry, cranberry, plum and violet. The palate is light but quite dense and dark, meaty and earthy with cherry skin and mineral flavors, with a chalky and slightly bitter finish. This will need years in the cellar or a very long decant - an intiguing wine of contemplation that will need time to reveal it's poetry. (Please note - there is no added preservative, consume on the day opened.)

Le Briseau 2018 Vin de France Patapon Rouge (9/22)

'Patapon' has a following of die-hard old-school natural wine fans, for good reason. For many of us, it was our introduction to Pineau D'Aunis, obviously along with Robinot, Tue-Bouef, Clos Roche Blanche, and Puzelat-Bonhomme offerings from the early 2000s (to name a few). This wine always has a medium bodied palate, a bit of a surprise for folks who think that Pineau D'Aunis is thin or juicy. Some are, but not the Patapon! Careful with the chill, as the wine becomes tight, tannic and neutral on the nose with too much of a chill. Best would be to serve this at cellar temp and let it warm up. A very lovely Pineau D'Aunis with deep, round spicy red fruits and hints of white pepper.

Pineau, Julien 2020 Vin de France Sucettes á l'Aunis

From Jullien Pineau, new proprietor of vines at the Clos Roche Blanche in Touraine, comes this earthy and beautiful Pineau d'Aunis, organic farming of course and zero added sulfur. The 2020 shows a bright, slightly opaque red/purple color with lovely aromas of rose petal, spice, plum, ripe raspberry, orange peel and white pepper. The palate is tangy and velvety with ripe plum and crushed berries - the finish is soft and ripe with earth, minerals, red fruits and citrus. This is a delightful natural wine that will accompany a wide variety of lighter meat dishes, served cool. David Lillie

Mosse, Agnes et Rene 2020 Vin de France Magic of Ju-Ju

This year's version of the "Magic of Juju" is 70% Chenin from the Loire and 30% Loin de l'Oeil from Gaillac. The grapes ferment and age on the lees in old barriques for 6 months with the blend done about 6 weeks before bottling.  The fruit profile is dominated by honeydew melon, crisp yellow apple and green pear, with a tart salty quality in the mid-palate reminiscent of the best Greek yogurt drizzled with honey. There is good weight and a lovely sense of balance here. All in all, this is delicious. Be the first on your block to taste this unique blend!

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2020 Vin de France Ormeau Deux Croix Maceration

This is a beautiful almost-orange wine from Chenin Blanc grown on clay/limestone/silex soils in the "Ormeau des Deux Croix Ronne" vineyard near Monthou-sur-Bievre (Cheverny). The grapes undergo a one month maceration in amphora and vat which imparts a pale, slightly cloudy orange/bronze color and a bit of skin tannin in the finish. The 2020 seems a bit brighter than the 2019 with intriguing aromas of orange peel, spiced pear, beeswax, almond...  The palate is finely textured with very firm acidity and flavors of ripe pear and granny smith, with citrus peel and spice in the long scintillating finish. Enjoy by itself or with full-flavored fish and chicken dishes.

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2019 Vin de France Tesniere Blanc (Menu Pineau)

Menu Pineau, also known as "Arbois" is described in Wine Grapes  (J. Robinson et al.) as "an old variety from the Val de Loire named after its similarity to Gros Pineau (Chenin Blanc)...although it has nothing to do with the village called Arbois in the Franche-Comté." It is an offspring of Gouais Blanc, along with many other European grapes, and is "a little more rustic, but less acid than Chenin Blanc," according to Thierry Puzelat. The 2019 La Tesnière Blanc by Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme is from organically-grown vines, 75% Menu Pineau and 25% Chenin Blanc. The wine shows a bright pale gold color and is slightly petillant when opened. Subtle aromas of grapefruit, dried pear and apple, dried herbs, nettle, lemon peel, stone and caramel. The palate is austere and stony, with firm acidity and flavors of hazelnut, citrus, baked apple, earth and brown spice. A really fascinating wine and a great pairing with sushi, grilled fish with fennel, lemon chicken, aged goat cheeses and much more. Highly recommended to lovers of unique natural wines. David Lillie

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2020 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Maceration

Pierre-O Bonhomme's 2020 Sauvignon Maceration, from estate fruit, is macerated in vat and aged in barrel giving a wildly complex Sauvignon that's truly delicious. In the glass, the wine is a hazy lemon in color. The nose is smoky, showing pear, yellow apple, and bold grassy aromas. As the wine opens, scents  of orange peel, anise and bitter herbs develop. Flavors of orchard fruit and lemon lead the palate, with undertones of black tea and white pepper. A dose of healthy minerals add a great energy to the wine's mouthfeel, balanced by a touch of faint tannin and a zip of great acid. Wild but approachable, tons of flavor and great structure. Drink up!

Tue-Boeuf 2020 Touraine Le P'tit Buisson

100% Sauvignon Blanc. Tue Boeuf has been sourcing from this site known as Petit Buisson on the north bank of the Cher since 2003. It is an organically farmed, hand-harvested, 1.4-hectare parcel of 35-40-year-old vines on flinty clay-limestone soils.Typical of Tue Boeuf whites, Petit Buisson fruit is whole-cluster-pressed and allowed to ferment spontaneously with native yeasts and without sulfur in large oak tanks. The wine ages for around 6 months in used Burgundy barrels, without racking and with occasional stirring of the lees; it is bottled without fining or filtration.  The 2020 is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc with vibrant pear and melon fruit, very supple and ripe but with firm acidity. Most Sancerres are dulled by excess sulfur-dioxide, but this wine is pure, long and delicious with only a tiny addition of SO2 before bottling. Serve with any full-flavored fish dish, white meats and goat cheeses, lovely wine.

Villemade, Hervé 2018 Cheverny Blanc "La Bodice"

Hervé Villemade's extraordinary Cheverny Blanc "La Bodice" comes from a single vineyard of 40 year-old vines on sandy soils with silex on clay of Sologne, where the 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Chardonnay reach maximum ripeness and expression. Yield is only about 10 hl/ha. The wine ages on the lees in old barrels for a year or more and is bottled with zero or minimal SO2. The wine shows a pale bronze color and  notes of fresh and candied fruit (pear, quince, apple) nuanced by angelica and fennel, with a dense, even almost "tannic" texture, and quite sapid, nourished by aging on the fine lees. The substance, elegance and length on the palate give this wine a real personality and a great aptitude for pairings with complex fish and white meat dishes or goat cheeses.

Villemade, Herve 2018 Cour-Cheverny Les Acacias

"Romorantin, the official grape of the Cour-Cheverny AOC, appreciates sandy clay/limestone soils where it offers a wine of great character that mixes elegant vegetal and floral notes (cut grass, violets, a touch of mint), often slightly honeyed with notes of ripe fruit (roast pear) lightly marked by the elevage in old barrels. The finish is fresh, tight with saline minerals and bitter anise. A wine with good aging potential." (Villemade.net)  In 2018, the "Les Acacias" is again simply outstanding and very distinctive, offering aromas of ripe peach and pear with spice, floral, caramel and oxidative notes. The palate is very round and ripe with stone, peach, earth and almond flavors, with fabulous length with honeyed lemon, anise and minerals.  Superb wine, to drink now or in 10 to 20 years. David Lillie

Villemade 2010 Cour-Cheverny Les Acacias

Herve Villemade's 2010 Cour-Cheverny is 100% Romoratin grown in vineyards planted in 1964 and 1988 which is bottled after 2 years of aging in a 500L barrel."A wine with good aging potential" says Hervé and we couldn't agree more, having tasted examples from the 1950s at the Clos Roche Blanche. Truly an impressive, aged wine, and a fantastic example of aged, dry Cour-Cheverny. Notes of butterscotch and herbs. Beautiful, long creamy mid-palate, and a lovely slightly oxidative finish with minerals and fresh cut herb notes. Trying the 2010 and 2018 in one night is a memorable experience!  -

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2019 Touraine KO In Cot We Trust

Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme's "In Cot We Trust" is one of the most vibrant, fascinating and delicious Malbecs of the Loire! From  a single parcel called "les Automnes" with 45 year-old vines on clay/limestone soils, 2 week whole-cluster maceration, fermentation and aging for 18 months in 500L demi-muids, zero or minimal added SO2. 2019 is another great vintage for this soulful wine! (Please decant or open a few hours in advance) The wine shows an opaque dark red color and complex aromas of ripe blackberry and plum, violet, earth, roast meat, citrus peel and mint, very changeable and bright. The palate is fresh and bright with cool acidity under dense stony black fruits, plum skin and lighter berry fruits, menthol and stone that linger in the long finish. Fascinating now, this should be very interesting in 5 to 10 years. Highly recommended for lovers of natural wine, serve cool.  David Lillie

Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2019 Vin de France Vercheny

Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme currently works about ten hectares and  sources some fruit from trusted friends, also working organically. This vintage of the Vercheny (an anagram of Cheverny) is 100% Pinot Noir from 60 year-old vines in the "La Boissiere" vineyard. Grapes are hand-harvested, whole cluster fermentation occurs in vat, and the wine ages for at least six months in used 500L barrels. A spectrum of bright red fruits is present on the nose, with fresh red cherries and raspberries.  The wine is bright with acidity with nice density and a chalky texture with a touch of structure framing juicy red raspberries, strawberies, cherries and tangy red apple skin on the lingering finish. Just delicious!

Villemade, Hervé 2019 Cheverny Les Ardilles

 Our friend Hervé Villemade made another gorgeous "Les Ardilles" in 2019. Made from 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Gamay grown on sandy  clay with silex over limestone in Cheverny with yields of about 25 hl/ha. There was a 20-day maceration with light extraction followed by aging in  old barrels, with no added SO2 during vinificaton. The wine is particularly ripe, elegant and intriquing in the excellent 2019 vintage. The nose is a bit closed, with deep, brambly black cherry/black raspberry fruit with earth and minerals, adding notes of citrus peel, spice and licorice with air. The palate is dense and elegant with deep, sapid black cherry and raspberry, chalky and full with velvety tannins and firm acidity. The finish is clean, elegant and long with beautiful sapid, ripe black fruits, minerals and citrus. Just a great natural wine. Decant if drinking now, best 2023 - 2030.

Tue-Boeuf 2020 Cheverny La Gravotte Pinot Noir

The 2020 Tue-Boeuf "La Gravotte" is Pinot Noir with a bit of Gamay grown in a 1.2 ha vineyard on clay with flint over limestone of Blois, aged for 8 months in 400L  and Burgunday barrels. This is a beautifully fresh, ripe and delicious natural Pinot, drink now or cellar 5 - 10 years.

Tue-Boeuf 2020 Cheverny La Caillière Pinot Noir

 Pinot Noir. La Caillère is a 1.35-hectare estate plot of 35-to40-year-old Pinot Noir vines planted on very deep clay over limestone. The argilo-silex soils are sandy and rocky and in fact the parcel takes its name from caillasse, meaning "hard rocks."  The Puzelats farm La Caillère organically and harvest it by hand. Vinification begins as semi-carbonic for 10 to 14 days, then finishes traditionally after pressing followed by 10 to 12 months aging in demi-muids and old barriques. The 2020 shows very complex tart cherry, red-currant, violet and earth aromas, quite pretty and with more ripeness than usual in this vintage. The palate is intense but light with fascinating black cherry, blood orange and spice flavors that linger with earthy acidity in the very long finish. This is an unususal and delicious Pinot that should develop well over the next 5 to 8 years. Minimal, or perhaps zero added SO2.