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Cotat Rarity: 2018 François Cotat Chavignol Rosé

The last time that we were able to offer François Cotat’s Rose was in 2015. This is one of the most compelling examples of what rosé wine is capable of, and that goes a long way to explain its cult following.

Ungrafted and Unparalleled: 2018 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny:
Franc de Pied & Les Mémoires

These two wines are among the most complicated and fascinating that the Loire has to offer. Roches Neuves is one of the Loire's elite estates. The wines have a sophistication, harmony, and transparency that separates them from the pack.

Revelation in the Loire: 2017 Bernaudeau Vin de France Les Ongles

Stéphane Bernaudeau has quickly become one of the Loire's cult winemakers. If you've tasted the wines, this isn't surprising. They are snappy, bright, and seriously complicated. The purity on display is undeniable. 

Loire Royalty: 2014 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Clos

Clos Rougeard isn't only one of the great wines of the Loire; it's one of the great wines of the world. Rougeard is, without a doubt, among the most aristocratic and longest-lived wines of the Loire. 

3 - Star Loire
2018 Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos de l'Echelier & Clos Romans

Roches Neuves is one of the Loire's great estates. Today, we focus on their two Chenin Blancs, Clos de l'Echelier and Clos Romans. Both are absolutely dynamite expressions of the grape.

Loire Royalty
2013 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg

In the Loire, the wines of Clos Rougeard are without peer when it comes to refinement and ageability. Simply put, Clos Rougeard is Loire royalty. 

Overnight Superstar: 2017 Château De Bonnezeaux La Montagne

Almost overnight, Château De Bonnezeaux became one of the most exciting producers in the Loire. Château de Bonnezeaux had not produced a single bottle of wine in over 30 years, but in 2012, these once abandoned vineyards began their slow road to recovery, led by winemaker Guyonne Saclier de la Bâtie. After much work, the first release was the 2016 vintage.

Loire Benchmark:
2018 Pepiere Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine Clos des Briords

Year after year, Pepiere's Clos des Briords is our favorite Muscadet. There's a beautiful honesty to Briords that causes us to buy it by the case every vintage. You might find more powerful and richer Muscadets, but Briords is unrivaled when it comes to luminous transparency and cut.

The Loire's Pinnacle:
2015 Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos Romans

In any given vintage, Roches Neuves produces approximately 50 cases from this clos dating back to the 11th century. For us, this is one of the greatest expressions of Chenin in the world.

Overnight Superstar:
2017 Château De Bonnezeaux Vielle Vigne Du Fief Prévost

Simply put, Château de Bonnezeaux Du Fief Prevost VV is special. This is one of the most complex, dynamic, and layered Chenin Blancs we’ve had in a long time.

From Limestone - A Distance Runner:
2017 François Cotat Sancerre Les Culs de Beaujeu

I've always had a soft spot for Culs de Beaujeu. The way that it comes off as saturating, poised and vividly stony is supremely compelling.

Ungrafted Saumur - Simply Profound:
2017 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied

Roches Neuves produces some of the top wines of the Loire. Out of the entire line-up, it's the Franc de Pied that proves the most elusive and quietest in its profundity.

Loire Royalty: 2016 & 2017 Huët Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec

For Huët's founder, Gaston Huët, Clos du Bourg was Vouvray's greatest vineyard. Today, we pay tribute to this vineyard, the stoniest of Huët's sites, that yields wines of the grandest architecture.

2017 Pascal Cotat Chavignol Rosé

Pascal Cotat's Rosé occupies a very special place. Few, if any, rosés age better or with more elegance. We've had bottles with 10 and even 20 years of age that have blown us away. The 2002 is a legendary bottle around here. It's obvious that the world has taken notice. Finding Pascal Cotat's

Loire Aristocrat - Century Old Vines: 2017 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Les Memoires

Les Mémoires is sourced from a tiny parcel of 100+ year old vines. It is one of the most intriguing and profound expressions of Cabernet Franc.

A Stand Out Croix Boissée:
2016 Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée

It's probably best to come out and say it: Baudry's Croix Boissée is one of my favorite wines. I've bought and cellared every vintage for over a decade and have never been even mildly disappointed by the wine. There are very few wines with this level of consistency.

Loire Benchmark:
2017 François Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnés

Les Monts Damnés may be the most famous vineyard in Sancerre. It's called the “damned mountains” because of how steep and how difficult the site is to work. When you see a picture of Monts Damnés, it's obvious that this is great terroir.

Painstaking Precision:
2017 Chidaine Vouvray Argiles Sec

Over the years, we've penned plenty of emails on Chidaine. Every vintage, there's a bottle or two from the vast range that really impresses us. In 2017, Les Argiles is the stand out.

2 Barrels Made - Loire Star:
2015 Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos de l'Echelier

Lately, it's been impossible not to take notice of Roches Neuves. In recent vintages, they have simply been killing it. Today, I'm very happy to revisit their 2015 Clos de l'Echelier Blanc. When we first offered the 2015 in February 2017, it stood out as one of the vintage's best expressions of Chenin Blanc. If anything, the wine's success has come into clearer focus today.

An 11th Century Clos - 50 Cases Made: 2015 Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos Romans

For us, Roches Neuves Clos Romans Blanc is one of the great expressions of Chenin. Clos Romans is a walled vineyard dating back to the 11th century.

Coming of Age: Chinon "Grand Cru" - 2015 Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot

Clos Guillot sits just above Clos de L'Olive and Le Chêne Vert, two of Chinon's most renowned sites. It's easy to see why the Baudry family was so excited to have purchased vineyards in Clos Guillot and why they were confident it would be their top wine.

Loire Elite, The Smart Buy
2017 Thierry Germain Saumur Blanc Clos du Moulin

In a handful of years, Thierry Germain's Roches Neuves has been catapulted into elite status. They've become fixtures on the lists of 3-Star restaurants in Europe. At this point, it may very well be that their only rival in the Loire is the legendary Clos Rougeard. 

Sancerre Grand Cru: 2016 Boulay Sancerre La Côte

Among the vineyards of Sancerre, La Grande Côte is king. Gérard Boulay's Sancerres are some of my favorite expressions of the appellation. I was really excited in 2010 when Boulay debuted La Côte, which is from a choice parcel in Grande Côte. It immediately became one of the most impressive wines in Sancerre.

A Benchmark, 0.8HA:
2017 Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée Blanc

Baudry is the master of Chinon. To a very large extent, it's the Croix Boissée vineyard that's solidified the domaine's benchmark status. There's something incredibly compelling in Croix Boissée's finesse, detail and tightly coiled minerality. 

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