2022 Henri Chauvet Abrupts

WINEMAKER: Henri Chauvet
REGION: Auvergne, FR
VARIETY: Gamay d'Auvergne
VITICULTURE: Organic

"From a couple of Henri’s prized plots, mainly on basalt and blue marl, the grapes are macerated in whole bunch in large wooden cuves. The wine then spends nine months in 228lt and 300lt barrels. Some of Henri’s characteristic smokiness, the fruit is gentle, this feels bloody and mineral." - Gergovie Wines

"Henri moved to Auvergne in 2021 to begin his new dream of making natural wine after a career in banking and insurance. He studied under Jerome Bressy of Gourt de Mautens and Thierry Allemand before starting his own label. It was Thierry Allemand himself who thrust a bottle of his wine into my hand last year and said, "you have to work with this guy".

The soils are quite distinct from vineyards only slightly further north; the village still benefits from the volcanic elements common here but there is a predominance of iron oxide rich clay and quartz. Henri's vineyards are split between this red clay and also parcels with more profoundly volcanic, basalt soils. This complexity of terroir is what drew Henri to the area. He is a serious man and determined to make wines that are true to the soils the grapes are grown on. Stylistically these, like his mentor Allemand, are made with minimal intervention and maximum expression - and like Allemand's wines, they are clear, bright and straight." - Andrew Guard