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Domaine des Roches Neuves, “Les Roches”, Saumur Champigny 2021
Thierry Germain gives all his wines the same chance, starting with his first cuvée of Champigny. This new vintage is a fine, ripe, healthy Cabernet Franc, deliciously raspberry-flavoured, spicy, silky and supple. A «true taffeta wine», as Rabelais liked to say, as light as air, to be drunk as a treat
Domaine Le Fay d’Homme, La Part du Colibri Folle Blanche 2023
Wines of the series "La Part du Colibri" were created by Vincent Caye under the impression of an old legend. Once, when there was a big fire in the forest, all the animals looked frightened and doomed to the catastrophe. Only one small hummingbird, tirelessly, carried a drop of water in its beak to throw it on the fire. Annoyed beasts pointed to the uselessness of her insignificant efforts. To which she replied: "I know, but I must render the help that I can." Hence the philosophy of Vincent Caye: do everything possible to make the world a better place, even if it is not very much. Its organic vineyards take up very little space, but they will play their part in one common cause for saving the planet.
"La Part du Colibri" Gros-Plant du Pays Nantais is made from the grape variety of Fol Blanche, which has the ability to degenerate into wild grapes, not getting the proper pruning. Vincent Caye takes care of him on rocky vineyards according to biodynamic principles. In the case of vinification, Folle Blanche undergoes fermentation on its own yeast in concrete tanks buried in the ground. In them, the wine is aged for 8 months on draft before bottling.
Domaine Le Fay d’Homme, Monnières Saint-Fiacre Gneiss 2020
The nose whispers discreet, complex notes of candied fruit, jujube, white flowers, gentian and citrus zest. The palate is in this delicate register, subtle, thirst-quenching, and continues to develop fullness and volume, to finish with panache, releasing spices. Drink now, after airing, with bouchées à la reine, poultry or cellar.
Domaine Le Fay d’Homme, Muscadet Terre de Gabbro 2021
During a business trip to Muscadet, Christelle Guibert was struck by the growing number of producers whose work is terroir-oriented.
“Terre de Gabbro” is the fruit of this association between Christelle Guibert and Vincent Caillé.
“Terre de Gabbro” is a modern Muscadet, focused on its terroir and produced from biodynamic viticulture. The wine is of great complexity and will have its place among the greatest wines from a region in full renewal.
Domaine Vincent Carême, Vouvray Sec, Touraine 2022
The 2022 Vouvray Sec is a perfumed, tender style. It is a serious wine that's bone dry with a grown-up element of tannins providing muscle and structure. In its youth, it offers up fresh apples, pears and peaches, nodding to the warmer season. It is quite tense right now and needs some time to relax. But it was a shorter bottling. I think this needs a bit of time to come out.
Domaine Vincent Carême is one of the appellation’s leading lights. Starting in 1999, Vincent Carême was a member of the younger generation implementing what was viewed as artisanal ideas in the early 2000s, including organics and low sulfur regimes. Carême is now part of the Vouvray furniture, and these seemingly new ideas are now integral to the appellation’s ascendancy.
Both a traditional method and a very successful pét-nat are in the domaine range. When it comes to still wines, Carême’s taste preference is for dry styles, and that’s what you’ll mostly find in his chalky cellars. The winery cat recently died, but a dog, Tarzan, has now installed chez Carême.
Drink 2024 - 2033
Red wine Reuilly Rouge “Les Demoiselles”, 2022, France
Carmine colour with pretty ocre reflections. A complex nose with notes of morello cherries and cherry pits, followed by fresh and spicy red fruit aromas. Although it leaves a global impression of freshness in the mouth, this wine is far from. lacking roundness. In addition to the red fruit, the mouthfeel reveals spicy notes and an enjoyable peppery touch in particular. In the end, a salivating final that feels like bloody orange. 2022 reconnects with the 2018/2019/2020 serial of solar, warm and early vintages. Budburst and vine growth start as of mid-April, thus avoiding the cold frosts of the beginning of the month (phew!!). Flowering follows up very quickly end of May, after a first heatwave (our team begins bow tying at 6am!!). Several heatwaves succeed one another, interrupted by rainy storms (fortunately, we’ll avoid those nasty hailstones…). Mildew is well managed this year and the regular rainfalls avoid drought and allow us to get a good harvest. The vendanges are in a hurry again, on September 1st, we start picking the well-ripened grapes of Pinot and Sauvignon.