OMG, More Cabernet Franc! The beautiful Bourgueils of Stephane Guion are back in stock!
4/18/24 -
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 Domaine. The parcels are just 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!
We've been enjoying the superb Bourgueils of Stéphane Guion for 15 years now, since discovering his wines, with a little help from Marc Olivier of Domaine de la Pépière, at the "Levée de la Loire" in Angers. Organic since the 1960s – one of the first in France – the domain is certified Biodynmaic (Demeter) as of 2021 as well. Congratulations to Stephane!
The Return of the 2018 "Cuvee Prestige/Authentique!"
Stephane's "Cuvée Prestige" is always one of our favorite Loire Cabernet Francs, and the vintages 2009, 2010 and 2014 were particularly outstanding. 2018, however, may be the best he has made, and we're happy to get a new shipment, with the new Authentige label. "... a wine from beautifully mature grapes" says Stephane "giving superb aromas of very ripe black fruit confit with a savory mineral character on the palate, accompanied and enveloped by firm, ripe tannins with wonderful length, giving a very balanced wine and promising long cellaring. For me a magnificent vintage that I will want to revisit frequently!" Enjoy this wine over the next 15 to 20 years!
2022 Bourgueil Rosé!
While most estates are hurrying to ship their 2023s, we are very happy to have Stephane's 2022 in this shipment - a bit softer than the 2021, from this warm and generous vintage in the Loire, but of course retaining the firm acidity and mineral flavors always present in this wine. This will be in my fridge all summer (and winter too), drink over the next 3 - 4 years...
This shipment also includes more of the 2018 Cuvée des Deux Monts, Stéphane's finest wine, first produced in 2009, from 70-80 year-old vines in "Petits Monts" and "Grand Monts" towards the top of the slope above Benais, facg 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. The wine is a baby with a long and lovely life ahead of it. We recommend buying a case (or two) to enjoy over the next 30 years.
La "Bête de Benais" is back!
Stephane's first Methode Traditionnelle Rosé from the 2021 vintage has returned - only 10 cs of this bubbly Cabernet Franc are available - It's a unique and refreshing Champagne-method sparkling wine that is insanely refreshing!
The color is a pretty, very pale pink with subtle aromas of raspberry and earth; the palate is refreshing and dry, but not too dry, with a creamy mousse and classic Cabernet Franc berry fruit and mineral flavors that linger in the finish. $15.99! (The label commemorates (?) a monstrous wolf or wolves who attacked hundreds of people around the village of Benais in Bourgueil in 1693, if we believe the folk-tale. Google "La Bête de Benais" for many accounts in French and English)
And of course, the 2020 Cuvee Candide – Don’t be alarmed, we asked Stephane to hold 40 more cases for us, 20 of which are landing today. It’s one of the worlds greatest wine values, for sure!
-David Lillie
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