2019 Sylvain Leest Grappille

WINEMAKER: Sylvain Leest
REGION: Loire Valley, FR
VARIETY: Côt, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

Côt, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. Part whole bunch, part de-stemmed maceration for around 10 days and then pressed to tank to finish fermentation and élevage. A serious wine that benefits from a decant to show it's full potential. Lots of dark red fruit and classic Cabernet's forest floor character.

Jumping at the opportunity to take up his own farm in 2013, Leest was enticed by the 14 different varieties planted in small parcels, including some rarer varietals from vines dating back more than 60 years. It was exactly what he was looking for: an opportunity to do several things in parallel – grow vines and other crops, keep farm animals, and manage the farming of his own fruit.

Since taking up the plots, Leest’s fruit has been used year after year by Les Capriards (an iconic sparkling wine producer) to make some of the most esteemed sparkling wine in the world. Over the course of his farming Leest slowly kept more of the crop for himself and increasingly focussed on his own vinification. Today, using traditional techniques and attentive farming Leest makes precise, balanced wines – classic in style, clean, pure, and terroir-driven.