1/3 each Sauvignon Blanc/Fié Gris/Chardonnay. The name of the site, Frileuse, roughly translates as "little cold one", a nod to the flat, frost-prone nature of this vineyard. These three varieties are co-planted in one 3.8-hectare estate site, Fié Gris being the historical name for Sauvigon Gris, itself an old variation of Sauvignon Blanc originating in Bordeaux (it tends to be fuller-bodied, softer, richer and more melon-mango in flavour vs. the better-known Blanc). The wine spent 8 months in demi-muids and old barrels. This brims with resonant ripe and freshly crushed fruit and has an appealing succulence and brightness that fans of this estate will recognize, the wines brings a smile and finishes with a satisfying minerally zing!
CLOS TUE-BOEUF, THIERRY & JEAN-MARIE PUZELAT Les MontilsCertified organic, natural
Thierry Puzelat joined his brother Jean-Marie in their family estate, Le Clos du Tue Boeuf in 1994. Four years later, Thierry started a small negociant business, buying organically growned grapes from trusted local winegrowers. Having met and worked with Francois Dutheil (Bandol) and Marcel Lapierre (Morgon), two pioneers of the ‘natural’ wine movement, Thierry decided he too, wanted to make his wines as naturally as possible. Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme joined the team in 2009 and together they owned 6 ha of vineyards and purchase from about 10 ha locally. In 2016, Pierre-Olivier went his own way and is now bottling under his own label.
Puzelat’s wines are quite unique, they are highly expressive of their terroir, authentic, filled with life and have very strong personality.
‘Thierry and Jean-Marie Puzelat—brothers—are natural wine royalty. They are making some of the Loire’s most interesting wines and are at the heart of the natural wine movement.’Jamie Goode