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2021 Domaine Les Grandes Vignes 'Le P’tit Vaillant'

2021 Domaine Les Grandes Vignes 'Le P’tit Vaillant'

Region:  Anjou < Loire Valley < France

Grapes: Groslot, Cabernet Franc

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Demeter-certified biodynamic farming, clay
soil. Grapes were hand-harvested, fermented with wild yeasts and aged
in underground ceramic vats. Bottled unfined, unfiltered with no added
SO2; zero-zero; 12% ABV

Since the 17th century, the Vaillant family has passed on their home
estate and, generation to generation, grown the Domaine in both scope
and aspect; long practicing organic and biodynamic (though now
certified), they tend their 55 hectare vineyard with a
year-round-employed team (rare!) to make their lovely low to no SO2
wines on the western hills of the Loire Valley, known as the Coteaux
du Layon. There are a bunch of different soil types here, not least
due to the proximity to the Atlantic – a mashup of soils where sea
meets land: gray & green schists, phtanite, quartz, shellfish,
sandstone, & loose gravel. The grape varieties are the typical Loire
specialties: Chenin for the whites, Cab Franc, Grolleau, Pineau
d’Aunis for the reds. The luxury of deep familial roots has allowed
Domaine Les Grandes Vignes to be a kind of beacon for what some
natural winemakers may aspire toward: a totally transparent project
pitched at a larger scale with biodynamic vineyard treatment and
minimal cellar intervention. To be simultaneously this big and this
hands-off, with experiment and whimsy still at play vintage to
vintage, is pretty incredible and serves as a model for other big-ish
estates who poo-poo the idea of working naturally at a larger scale.

'Le P’tit Vaillant' is the domain's versatile bistro red that, to us,
tastes like fall in a glass.   Crunchy but not green, this little
superhero red is bursting with bright black cherries, red plum,
raspberries and an herbal note that makes it so good with food. We
love it served with a slight chill, with all manner of Mexican food,
burgers or even a festive holiday meal.

SERVE SLIGHTLY CHILLED
$26.00
$26.00
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