7/1/25 -

For almost 20 years Chambers Street has been offering the outstanding Bourgueils of Stéphane Guion in Benais. The wines are relatively unknown, sold primarily by organic markets in France, despite being named as one of the Best Wines of France 2010 by the Revue Vin de France, saying: "These are not fashionable wines, due to the dynamic acidity, but for those who love the flavors of terroir they are a priority discovery...that are a credit to the Loire."

Today's offer proudly includes Stéphane's first release of his new "Cuvée Grand Mont," coming entirely from this great terroir on Upper Turonien limestone with topsoils of silex, rocks and shells, sheltered from the north winds - a superb micro-climate permitting the creation of elegant wines capable of long-term aging. From the excellent 2020 vintage, this extraordinary wine is best held for 5 years, then enjoy until 2050. (We appear to be the only store on the planet offering this wine - don't miss it!!)

---------- Also in this shipment from Stéphane Guion ---------------

2018 Cuvée des Deux Monts, from 70-80 year-old vines in "Petits Monts" and "Grand Monts" towards the top of the slope above Benais, facing roughly south-west, clay over Turonien limestone (tuffeau, craie micacée). This is the terroir giving the most elegant and age-worthy Bourgueils - 2018 is an exceptional vintage for reds in the Loire as the wines possess superb ripeness and depth making them delicious to drink young, with the freshness and structure to enable long-term cellaring.

2022 Bourgueil Rosé - Finally mature! It takes a few years for Stephane's Rosé to shed a bit of its bracing acidity and for the ripe berry fruits to fully emerge. A product of serious limestone/gravel terroir, this is the perfect wine for grilled chicken on a hot day this summer - and all year-round. We drank one a few weeks ago - fabulous!

2019 Cuvee Authentique - (Formerly "Prestige) Gorgeous aromas of red and black fruits with floral, earth and herbal notes, quite pretty and ripe. The palate shows deeper black fruits, earth, spice and stone with the intense mineral character and firm acidity always present in Stephane's wines

2022 Cuvée Candide - This "drink-young" cuvée is quite serious in 2022 and will benefit from a day open or a few years in the cellar, drink until 2032+. A sensational value, of course

2023 Les Pionniers - Dedicated to Stéphane's parents, "pioneers" in organic farming beginning in 1964, among the first in France, and now biodynamic. This is his first wine vinified and bottled with zero-added sulfur dioxide! The wine shows a very bright red/black color with vivid aromas of violet, strawberry and raspberry compote, a bit of spice. The palate is light and bright with pure, velvety red and black fruits that linger in the clean, refreshing finish.

NV (2022) Methode Traditionelle Rosé 'Bete de Benais' - Stéphane has made his first ever methode traditionnelle sparkling rosé from Cabernet Franc vines in a new parcel on clay/limestone soils in Benais. We can't say that it's equal to the Marie-Courtin "Indulgence," but it's a delightful wine!

------------------- and don't miss -------------------------

Muscadet!
New arrivals from the superb 2023 vintage at Domaine de la Pépière!
2023 Les Gras Moutons - Superb for current drinking and over the next 5 to 10 years!
2023 Briords Vieilles Vignes - A great Muscadet from granite/clay terroir, enjoy now and until 2043!

Sancerre!
2022 Pierre Morin "Chêne Marchand" from the best parcel in Bué planted on very thin soils of caillottes, the very fractured, stony-pebbly Oxfordian limestone terroir. The wine is superb in 2022 and offers great value to lovers of "real" Sancerre.

We've also added the superb 2019 Bourgueils from Domaine de la Chevalerie to today's list, and - in case you missed it last weekend, the always wonderful Baudry Chinon Rosé!

>>>VIEW WINES<<<

More about the Guion winery ----------------

Domaine Guion was created by Stéphane Guion's father in the 1950's and was certified organic beginning in 1965. The estate's 8 hectares are all in Benais mostly on Turonien limestone with varied depths of clay topsoil. Only 15% of the vines are on gravel topsoil, in "La Ruée," used primarily for the rosé and a small amount in the Cuvée Candide. The parcels are west of Domaine de la Chevalerie and Domaine Breton, in the northern sector of Benais, on slopes facing south and southwest, which is prime real estate for ageworthy, mineral-laden Bourgueils! 
Don't be dismayed by the low cost of these superb wines - we keep telling Stéphane to raise his prices given the superb quality of the wines, but he just smiles and adds a tenth of a Euro per year...
(Stéphane reports today that his old vines are in good shape despite the current heat-wave, as sufficient rain over the winter is keeping the roots moist and protected. And that he has planted another 60 ares of Chenin!)