Laurent Saillard 'La Valse' Rosé Vin de France 2024

Laurent Saillard first made a name for himself as an early evangelist of the NYC natural wine movement in the 2000s at his Brooklyn restaurant, Ici. His love affair with natural wine eventually took him to France for a more hands-on approach, and for the last decade he’s been making natural wines of his own in the Loire. After an initial period experimenting with rented vineyards, he purchased half of the Clos Roche Blanche estate upon the owners’ retirement in 2015, and now owns 6 hectares which are farmed through a combination of organic and biodynamic techniques. Ironically, a good amount of his wine ends up back in NY bars and restaurants, where it is much in demand! ‘La Valse’ is made from gamay and Pineau d’Aunis grapes direct pressed and fermented in stainless steel. Snappy red berries and hints of crushed herbs make this dry rosé a refreshing, savory sipper. Organically grown, biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.