Bonhomme, Pierre-Olivier 2021 Vin de France Le Telquel

(We have good stock of the 2021, and more is shipping from France!) This "poil dur" is wagging its tail again in 2021, with the brightness and balance of the old days at 11.5% alcohol, really refreshing and delicious! The wine shows bright plum, raspberry and green apple fruit with a bit of earth and spice. The palate is light and fresh but with nice density of fruit - raspberry, red currant and cherry with bright acidity, quite "gouleyant" - lip smacking and tasty that is, reminding us of the Ducroux Exspectatia...yum! The blend in 2021 is still based on Gamay, with Cabernet Franc, and some Syrah and Grenache from the Roussillon (noted from tasting with Pierre-O in February 2022).

Tessier 2021 Cheverny Blanc

In the western Sologne, Philippe and now his son Simon Tessier are making some of the best example of Cheverny blanc, an appellation focusing on blend, and highly versatile with a lift and an elegance due to the sandy clay soil over limestone.  A blend of Sauvignon and 10% Chardonnay, they add about 10% of a local, ancient variety, Orbois or Menu Pineau, a grape that almost disappeared because in the past it barely ripened. But because of climate change, the Menu Pineau is a valuable asset to keep acidity and tension. 2021 was a vintage of tiny yields because of spring frosts givng a wine with bright acidity, but with good ripeness as well. Even if the blend is dominated by the Sauvignon, there is no caricatural expression: it is more a variation on grapefruit zest, sage, and white flowers. The aromas on the palate are also all in touches, with notes of apple blossom, anis, lemon zest with a nice subtle bitterness. Serve it in a larger glass, let it open for a little bit and serve it with some black sea bass with squash and yuzu, a salad of fennel and of course some goat cheese.

Tessier 2020 Cour-Cheverny Les Sables

We're happy to have "les Sables" back in stock, even if it's only one case!  This beautiful, rich but dry Romorantin from Tessier is from 25 to 40 year-old vines on sandy clay soils with silex. The wine ages 10 months in tronconic wooden vats and 5 months in cement and was bottled with minimal SO2. This is a rare and beautiful wine, quite concentrated and incredibly vibrant!  The nose is complex, with a lot of pear drops, lime zest, wild flower honey, almond and stone. It is in fact quite aromatic for a Romorantin. In the palate, there is a lot happening: you would never guess the alcohol as the tangy, acidity has such a backbone. It is really lifted for such a dense wine. Get creative, as this unique wine is a great food pairing for a full-flavered fish or shellfish preparation, or with rabbit and other white meats. We have 12 bottles.. (Approximately 14% alc, 1.5 gr/l RS, 15 mg/l SO2.)

Tessier 2021 Vin de France Pet Nat "Phil'en Bulle"

The Tessier "Phil'en Bulle" is a fabuous Pet Nat (Methode Ancestrale - one fermentation that finishes in the bottle) made from 80% Romorantin and 20% Menu Pineau (Orbois) - two of our favorite grapes!  The wine is bottled after one year sur lie, with zero added sulfur. The 2021 version is sensational as usual, showing a pale gold color and vibrant aromas of citrus, honey, almond, and pear with herbal notes. The palate is round, dense and brisk, with citrus peel, almond, white fruits and caramel with herbal notes. The finish is long and refreshing. Serve this terrific Pet Nat with just about anything, it's a perfect aperitif and it makes an outrageous French 75!

Tessier 2021 Vin de France TOC (Cot) (Arives 3/30)

Toc is a pun for Côt, one of the single-variety cuvées made by Simon and Philippe Tessier in their organic estate of Sologne. Côt, or Malbec, is one of the grapes authorised in the Cheverny AOC but as the appellation has to be a blend, the wine is declassified in Vin de France. We are at the eastern and northern limit for this grape : the tannins are lighter, and the acidity has a unmistakable blueberry core.  Vinified like all the other reds in semi-carbonic maceration for 15 days or so, then aged in larger oak barrel, this bottling has a juicy, plush texture balancing really well the natural high acid spine of the variety. Very dark purple - the usual colour of Malbec - the 2021 has a fresh bouquet of violet, elderberry, Assam tea and dried thyme. on the palate, the attack is round and bright,  with the gentle tannins, not heavy at all. (Only 12% alcohol and almost no SO2.) This is really a delicious juicy wine you would like to decant and can chill, it's refreshing and delicious!

Tessier 2021 Cheverny Rouge

The delicious 2021 Tessier Chevery Rouge is from 15 to 40 year-old vines of approximately 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Gamay and 10% Cot grown in sandy clay soils. Wild yeasts, of course, and aging in old barrels with minimal or zero SO2 added, bottled unfiltered. The yields were terrible in 2021, but the surviving bunches achieved good ripeness with perhaps a bit less acicity. The wine shows bright cherry and raspberry with plum, rose, citrus and brown spice. The palate is round, velvety, ripe and vibrantly refreshing with chalky spiced berry fruits, plum skin and mineral flavors, ending with sappy red fruits and bright acidity. Serve quite  cool with charcuterie, chicken and pork dishes and a wide variety of cheeses.  Just delicious! 

Tessier 2020 Cheverny Rouge Le Point du Jour (3/30)

 Tessier's 2020 "Le Point du Jour" is a beautiful expression of Cheverny, a blend of  20% Gamay and 80% Pinot Noir from the oldest vines of the estate planted on two types of terroir, clay and sand and sandy clay over limestone.  Hand-harvested, the grapes are vinified in 80% whole-cluster, macerated for 2 weeks or so before being aged in a mix of barrels, demi-muids and foudres. Aging is short, the wine is blended in January and bottled a couple of weeks after unfiltered with minimal sulfur dioxide. It is really a round, easy-to-drink wine, showing cherry with lush wild strawberry and pomegranate, hints of cinnamon and almond, and very soft tannins. Serve cool, enjoy over the next five years. 13.5% alc, 19mg/l SO2.

Tessier 2020 Cheverny "Point Nommé" Pinot Noir

 The superb 2020 "Point Nommé" is from 100% Pinot Noir grown on silex and clay over limestone, vinified with minimal SO2 and aged for 10 months in old barriques, bottled unfiltered.  This is a vibrant Pinot, showing lush high-toned aromas of blackberry, black raspberry liqueur, citrus peel, brown spice and licorice. There is lush fruit on the palate brightened by firm acidity - black raspberry and red currant - very ripe with a touch of tannin, deep and long. As in 2019, this is an unusual and delightful Pinot Noir showing the beautiful fruit of another warm and dry vintage in the Loire Valley. Only 6 bottles available, don't delay.