10/11/25 - 

It's no secret that 2021 was a difficult vintage for winemakers in France, with lower temperatures (rain, frost, mildew, etc) and less sunshine than in 2018 - 2023. Many of the top estates made beautiful wines of course, with lower alcohol and firm acidity, with an accent on terroir rather than density of fruit. A good example might be the wines of Domaine Gonon in Saint-Joseph, whose 2021s were superb. As you might imagine, the Gonons and Baudrys are good friends and share similar methods in the vines and in the cellar. Today we're happy to offer the 2021 Baudry "La Croix Boissée" and 2021 "Les Mollières" at reduced prices - they are beautiful wines offering a lighter style than in the more fruit-forward vintages.
 
Here are assessments sent this week from Matthieu Baudry himself! :  "Mollières 2021 tastes very good with elegant, soft tannins, a kind of Pinot style on the texture. We had a nice tasting recently and Mollières 2021, Clos Guillot 2021 and Croix Boissée 2021 were showing very well. I think those 2021s are more approachable now than 2022s. Croix Boissée 2021 tastes very supple and smooth, less chalky tannins than usual. Quite elegant as well, that’s a C B that we can almost start to drink now ! But a great potental as well, probably more bourguignon in style." -Matthieu Baudry
 
Of course we now have to praise 2022s at Domaine Baudry as well, which offer superb ripeness with great balance and acidity - The 2022 Croix Boissée will reach us next year, "Les Grézeaux" (which was tasting supple and delicious when opened last week) and "Domaine" are on  offer today...
 
Speaking of great reds from the Loire, in our humble opinion the greatest combinations of quality and value come from our friend Stéphane Guion in Bourgueil - his 2020 "Grand Mont" is absolutely superb! Drink soon and over the next 25 years...

More Loire Favorites from Domaine de la Pépière and Jo Landron in Muscadet
 
2022 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet "Clisson" - Not produced in 2021 due to frost, the 2022 Clisson spent 2 years on the lees before bottling and offers a ripe, elegant full-bodied style that will drink beautifully young and will develop further over 15 to 20 years. We've recently enjoyed a few bottles of this gorgeous wine, it's a great Clisson that is not to be missed! (new lower price!)
 
The 2023 vintage was a great success for Rémi and Gwénaëlle at Pépière, especially for their wonderful "Les Gras Moutons." The nose is subtle but complex with a lovely melange of peach, pear, melon, lemon verbena, dried herbs and wet stone. The palate is marked by a nice bitter minerality underlying white fruits and citrus flavors. Drink now and over the next ten years....

2024 Pépière "La Pépie" Sad news - due to disastrous yields in 2024, there will be almost none of the "regular" Pépière Muscadet. We have about 6 cases left of the excellent 2023 La Pépie - those of you addicted to this wine should put some away...
 
One of my Favorite Muscadets, especially given the reasonable price, has always been Jo Landron's "Les Houx." (OK, hard to pronounce, sort of like "layzoo") Always delicious, a great mouthful of minerals, this wine is particularly good in 2021 with firm acidity and stony flavors over the subtle citrusy fruit. Enjoy over the next 3 to 5 years.

-David Lillie

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