2014 Domaine le Briseau ‘Lucky’ Pinot d’Aunis

Region: Loir-et-Cher < Loire Valley < France
Grapes: Pinot d’Aunis
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Clay soil filled with chunks of flint over limestone subsoil, certified biodynamic, hand harvested, foot tread, short semi-carbonic maceration in tank followed by alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in neutral barrel, just 2g/L SO2 added at bottling.
Winemaker: Natalie Gaubicher

Natalie Gaubicher and Christian Chaussard fell in love and decided to pursue their joint passion together, wine, and in 2002 they settled in the Loire Valley, the hotbed of organic farming and natural winemaking at the time. With just four hectares, Domaine le Briseau was born and Natalie and Christian became fixtures of the natural wine movement. Sadly, Christian passed away in 2012 in a tragic tractor accident, but Natalie has continued to run the estate and make incredible wines, like this light, pretty red. Pinot d’Aunis is an often overlooked grape, a fact that has allowed many newer domaines, most working naturally, to buy vines on the cheap. Distinctive Pinot d’Aunis bottlings began hitting the shelves in rapid succession, and now it’s a cool kid grape. We’ve had several of them, but none as pleasing as this one. Lightly perfumed, with orange peel, rose petal, sweet plum and the signature ‘salt & pepper’ notes of the varietal, ‘Lucky’ is the epitome of a Rock Juice wine. Decant and serve it with a slight chill. Best drunk the day you open it. With practically zero added SO2 it won’t hold up long once you pop the cork.