Pineau de la Loire is the original name of Chenin blanc, in this case, the blend is 90% Chenin and 10% Menu Pineau grown on a mix of Clay, Flint, sand and gravel. The vines were planted betweem 1993 and 2013. The grapes are crushed gently, the juice ferments and ages 7 months in old barrels. It is bottled unfined, unfiltered with a tiny amount of SO2. Lovely citrus and wild flowers on the nose, the palate is soft and gentle, with pear, apple and lime character.
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