2022 Henri Chauvet Rouge
WINEMAKER: Henri Chauvet
REGION: Auvergne, FR
VARIETY: Gamay d'Auvergne
VITICULTURE: Organic
"From a plot of iron-oxide rich red clay and some limestone, the grapes are macerated in wholebunches for about 2 weeks in stainless steel. It is then aged in old 228lt and 300lt barrels for 9 months. The mix of the two Gamays balances fruit and more mineral/bloody notes." - 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