Domaine la Taupe, "AK400" 2019

This is an annual shop favorite, light and fresh Loire Gamay with a bit of the Cher Valley's oomph (see: high acid with a beautifully bright bouquet) from the inimitable Domaine La Taupe who work in Thésée, Loir-et-Cher.

Vinification: 100% Gamay hand-harvested from one of the 'wild' parcels that Bertjan and Nicole look after (i.e. the vines grow without row-orientation and freely amongst themselves with minimal pruning and treatment). The vines are 40-50 years-old and the soil is the ancient riverbed of the Cher with primary subsoil of limestone. The grapes are partly destemmed and partly whole-bunch (spontaneous fermentation; ambient yeasts; no temp control) before being matured in old oak barrels over the course of 6-9 months. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, no additional SO2.