2022 Vincent Gaudry "Chavignol" Sancerre Rouge

Regular price $99.00
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5 Bottles in Stock

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Style: White

Vintage: 2022

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir

Country: France

Region: Loire

Subregion:

Bin Location: 600D


After many years of fighting New York sommeliers to obtain the brilliant Sancerre wines from Vincent Gaudry, today we finally received an ample allocation that should keep our thirsts quenched (at least through mid-May). If you already love Sancerre, prepare to try two of the most benchmark wines that leave the region each year. If you've abandoned Sancerre for less trodden pastures because of its gleeful ubiquity in cafes and bistros throughout the world, here is a superb reason to return. These are extremely limited, artisanal Sancere from Vincent Gaudry, who was the very first Demeter-certified biodynamic convert in the region in 2004. It's no wonder that Pascaline Lepeltier, one of the most well respected knowledge leaders for Loire Valley wines, has been touting the wines for nearly two decades as one of the region's best.

The respect and esteem of this estate does not end there. Let me share some background. For those unfamiliar with the legendary Edmond Vatan of Clos La Néore in Chavignol, who passed away in 2022 at the ripe age of 92 years, this estate is the most "confidential" and expensive of all of Sancerre's properties. Didier Dageneau even listed him as a mentor. Edmond's daughter Anne Vatan has enlisted Vincent Gaudry to farm the family's plots, making Gaudry the hidden auteur behind the estate's vineyards since 2018.

Andrew Tamers, the owner of farmhouse Spanish and French importer De Maison Selections, wrote pure poetry about Gaudry. "A journey through the Sancerre terroir with a virtuoso like Vincent is akin to stepping through an unmarked door into a hidden universe filled with colors, flavors, and textures one did not previously know existed. We refer to Vincent Gaudry as the “last Jedi of Sancerre,” due to his mastery of the complexities of the Sancerre terroir and his humble transparency and insight when speaking about his deeply held beliefs regarding the power of the earth and energy exchange between himself, his vineyards, and wines."

In terms of winemaking, Vincent remains a traditionalist as he looks for a balance between varietal and terroir. At harvest, whole clusters are hand harvested in small baskets. The domain’s impeccable farming is preserved through a slow, intentional process and an élevage that favors patience and transparency. Most fermentations are done in temperature-controlled stainless steel and a few in barrels, all with native yeasts and minimal sulfur. The wines are then aged on lees without bâtonnage and are bottled unfined and unfiltered, according to the lunar calendar. Cork finishes are sourced from an artisanal producer in Sardinia who seasons the corks for fourteen years, as opposed to the seven years that is average for Portugal. The result is precisely-delineated wines with stony minerality, concentration, texture, weight, complexity, and a lengthy, vibrant finish. Hands down, Vincent Gaudry ranks among the top five estates in Sancerre today.   - BRANDON KERNE, MASTER SOMMELIER

Per Importer De Maison: "Les Vignes de Chavignol Sancerre Rouge is Gaudry’s top red cuvée, made from two famous, low-yielding plots of old-vine pinot fin (a rare, old, small-berry clone of pinot noir) in Chavignol, called Les Chenaux and La Vaud. The La Vaud parcel belongs to the important Chavignolet lieu-dit, a magical vineyard located in a heavily-wooded amphitheater tucked away on the southwestern side of Chavignol. La Vaud is split into two parcels—the older vines higher up on the slope go into this Le Vignes de Chavignol cuvée, while the younger vines on the lower slope go into Vincent’s cuvée Vincengétorix. Les Chenaux is a stunning 60+ year-old parcel of pinot fin which lies directly south of the Chavignol village, leased to Vincent by Anne Vatan. In this regard, Vincent Gaudry is carrying the flag of traditional Chavignol rouge from this historic and important vineyard. Gaudry’s red wines are produced with the same spirit and reverence for history as his white wines, utilizing the traditions and lessons learned from the previous century in Sancerre. Whole clusters are hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented with native yeasts in used 228L French barrels. Les Vignes de Chavignol spends 18 months in the same 228L barrels before being bottled according to the lunar calendar, unfined and unfiltered, with minimal sulfur. Naturally low yields, ruthless pruning, organic viticulture, and late harvesting produce a highly-concentrated, complex snapshot of these two historic pinot fin sites in Chavignol."

How do I pick up my wine?

Orders are generally ready within 1-2 business days, but you can always email or call us for a status update. 

Need your wine fast? Just call us! We can expedite the order and may have it ready in less than an hour.

Houston Orders

After checking out, you will receive a pickup confirmation email when the order has been pulled and packed. You can pickup your wine at our shop at 2301 Portsmouth Street in Upper Kirby, Houston.

San Antonio Orders

Thanks for your patience as we prepare to fully open the shop in San Antonio! Any wine that is ordered with a selection to pickup in San Antonio will be available for pickup in San Antonio in 2-3 business days unless otherwise stated. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Josh at (210) 388-5556. You can pick up your wine at 2810 N Flores Street in the Alta Vista neighborhood of San Antonio.

For more information, or if you need your wine more quickly, reach out to us at info@aocselections.com and we will do everything we can to accomodate.