2020 Domaine des Sablonnettes Les Copines Aussi

WINEMAKER: Christine, Joel & Jeremy Menard
VARIETAL: Gamay
REGION: Loire Valley, FR
VITICULTURE: Certified Biodynamic

10 year old vines of gamay grown on schist. Grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed before maceration, which lasts for five days. A small addition of free run grolleau juice (10%) and chenin whole bunches (5%) adds to the freshness of the wine. Post pressing the wine rests in tank for six months before it is bottled without sulfites.

Christine and Joel Menard have been making wine in the heart of the Coteaux du Layon AOC for more than twenty years. Over the past few vintages they have welcomed their son Jeremy into the domaine to take care of the winemaking and the cellar. While the appellation is known for its sweet wines, Domaine des Sablonnettes have slowly cemented themselves over the years as a key producer of some of the most expressive and interesting dry wines in the AOC today. They are seen by many as the secret superstars of the region. They lovingly tend to their 13 hectares of vines, which have been managed and certified by biodynamic methods since 2007. Healthy soils and balance in their ecosystem has always been at the heart of their winemaking.