A little over ten years ago, we first met Thomas Batardiere, when he had a tiny, cramped "cellar" (actually just a garage) on the side of the road in the small town of Rablay-sur-Layon. I still remember the visit, tasting from some barrels and tanks and feeling that I was witnessing the beginning of a very special and promising estate. The first wines we stocked at Chambers Street were two Chenin Blancs, the 2014 Clos des Cocus, and L'Esprit Libre. Since then Thomas, and his wife and partner Marie-Lise, have slowly added more cuvées to their lineup, including a red from the local Grolleau grape, and two more white wines, one from a small plot they planted in 2014 in a parcel called Noels de Montbenault, and the other from young vines that they planted around 5 years ago. Perhaps a little best-kept secret, they also occasionally release small amounts of long lees-aged sparkling wines (usually aged 3 years sur latte on average). We're honored and thrilled to offer one of these bubbly gems, the 2021 Ultraviolette - a rosé from Grolleau, along with the small allocation of still wines from the 2023 vintage. Tasted at the estate earlier this year in February, they were all positively singing. They just arrived a week ago from France so we recommend letting them rest for at least a few weeks (or years!) as they will surely settle down and be more expressive after a little repose.  -Eben Lillie, with BIG thanks to fellow CSW staff-member Jeff DiLorenzo for copious and thoughtful notes on the wines!