Introducing the Lovely Chinons of Patrick Lambert! Don't Miss the Great 2014s from Bernard Baudry...

6/11/17 -

Last winter we  were asking Matthieu and Bernard Baudry about their favorite growers in Chinon (we always need more Chinon!) and they immediately suggested their friend Patrick Lambert, whose domain is around the corner from them, on the hill of Sonnay in Cravant. Luckily, Patrick was showing his wines at the organic show  "La Levée de la Loire" in Angers the following week, as it turned out right next to our friend Stéphan Guion from Bourgueil. The two growers are quite similar in their quiet and friendly personalities and in their wine-making as well, both practicing exemplary organic farming, hand harvesting and completely  traditional vinifications. The Patrick Lambert estate (as opposed to Pascal Lambert) dates back to 1990, but was restructured in 2005, as Patrick "downsized" to 6 hectares of the best terroirs. The soils are plowed or left with grasses, according to the parcels and the estate is certified organic by Ecocert. Vinifications are traditional with wild yeasts and the wines age either in vat or in small old barrels in his cold cellar cut into the limestone hillside. Needless to say, our tasting with Patrick was fantastic and we are ecstatic to have a new supplier and new friend in Chinon. We think that all of Patrick's wines are delicious, but of particular note are the two old-vine cuvées the "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" and the "L'Ame d'Antan." These are unique old-school Chinons that are great expressions of the soils of Cravant.

It has come to our attention that a few of our customers have not yet purchasesd any of the beautiful 2014 Chinons form Domaine Bernard Baudry. This is a sad situation, as these are some of our favorite French wines of the 2014 vintage and are certainly among the very best produced at the estate over the last twenty years. The Baudry's mastery of the farming and vinifications in their different parcels is truly exceptional - we are reminded of the work of Pierre and Jean Gonon in Saint-Joseph - and the resulting wines are superbly complex and elegant. We list our current inventory - each wine is oustanding - and note that only 4 cases remain of the "Les Grézeaux." Please Note: Customers interested in the 2014 "La Croix Boissée Rouge" should email their requests to us as the quantity available will be tiny in this vintage. -DL