Domaine la Taupe 'AK400' Gamay Vin de France 2019

Domaine la Taupe is a project of Dutch natural wine importer-turned-winemaker Bertjan Mol and his wife Nicole Messer. When Loire-based biodynamic vigneron Bruno Allion retired, Bertjan and Nicole took over part of his domaine. Their vineyards sit on the ancient bed of the Cher River, on chalk and limestone soils, where the 40+-year-old vines grow wildly in the fields. True to the natural wine philosophy they studied with Bruno Allion, they use no chemicals in the field and minimal intervention in the winemaking process. 20% of this gamay is fermented whole-bunch, with a short maceration in fiberglass, while the rest is destemmed. After 18 months’ aging in old barrels it is bottled by gravity without fining or filtration and with zero sulfur dioxide added. Ripe and bright, with tons of red fruit, this medium-bodied gamay expresses its Loire roots as well as the unique biodynamic heritage of its particular site. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.