2014  Le Grand Fricambault

2014  

2016  IGP Vin des Allobroges, Côteau de St Pierre de Soucy

From Domaine des Ardoisieres, it seems Mont Blanc is everywhere. The towering mountain watches over this small estate near the Swiss border from every angle, shaping the wines so expertly grown and made here. The domaine was planted during Roman times, then became overgrown with forest. A passionate group of supporters cleared the vineyard in 1998 and began piecing the steep terraces back together to create Domaine des Ardoisieres. Since 2005, Champagne native Brice Omont has taken over the winemaking and is now considered one of the most exciting producers in France. For the very first time, Brice's wines are being imported to the United States. The domaine's 17 acres of vineyards are planted on steep, rocky slopes high above the town of Freterive. The entire production is sourced from two single vineyard sites: Cevins and St. Pierre de Soucy. The domaine produces five different cuvées (three white, two red) using the area's unique varietals, including Altesse, Jacquère, Mondeuse, Gamay and Persan. The domaine has employed biodynamic principles in the vineyard since the vines were planted. The reds are produced without any de-stemming, and all the wines are fermented with native yeasts. Brice's wines are brilliantly unique, capturing the stony and mineral character of the vineyard terraces, and possessing an amazing crystalline purity. Drinking these wines from the side of Mont Blanc is like tasting freshly squeezed juice running off a glacier.

2011  Clos Guillot

2014  Coteaux du Languedoc

2011  

2013  Cuvee de Fondraux

Chenin Blanc from vines averaging 45 years of age. Harvest happens early in the morning for the Fondraux and the grapes are immediately pressed. The juice in then transferred into 500 L wooden barrels for a slow fermentation. The wine is aged in the same vessel on its lees for eleven months before bottling.

2000  

2012  

2014  Touraine Rouge

"La Guerrerie, a blend of 70% Cot (Malbec) and 30% Gamay, is presumably so called because of the war (guerre) that the Puzelat brothers feel they are waging on the authorities. It’s certainly by far the most exciting Malbec-dominated wine I have tasted from the Loire, benefiting from the lush, ripe, slightly rustic fruit that variety can provide, but also from the freshness of Gamay. It’s only 12.5% alcohol and has no obvious oak influence at all - just pure, unadulterated fruit fermented to dryness. I enjoyed it both with and without food for it is relatively soft. It’s not cheap but it does provide a counterpoint to the great mass of wine made today that can taste like a cocktail of oak and sugar." -Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com

2012  Jardins de Babylone

Jardins de Babylone -- Extremely limited production. This dessert wine was considered by Didier himself to be the finest of all his wines. Made from Petit Manseng grown biodynamically on Silex (clay and flint) soil in a natural amphitheater of vines at the foot of the Pyranees near the village of Aubertin. Barrel fermented and aged mostly in 450 and 600 liter barrels, as well as some of Dagueneau's famous cigar barrels. Designed by the late Didier, these barrels are 350 liters and aggressively elongated. Dagueneau’s approach is to produce wines that bring out the natural minerality of the soil and have balance, harmony and longevity. The relative sweetness of each vintage is secondary to the balance of acidity, texture and richness of fruit and the wines will never be chaptalized.

2013  Cotes du Rousillion