Page 72 - GV2020 Portfolio Master

Château de la Ragotière
Built by the noble Loré de la
Ragotiere family in the
14th century, Château de la
Ragotière was purchased in 1979
by the Couillaud brothers. PAYS NANTAIS—MUSCADET
Shortly thereafter, they also Muscadet is the key appellation of the Pays Nantais, the district of the western Loire Valley
purchased an estate on a beautiful
hillside in the Loire Valley with a around Nantes, on the central western coast of France. The name covers exclusively white wines
schist terroir, which they made from Melon de Bourgogne – the variety that was traditionally called Muscadet. Muscadet
replanted to Chardonnay. The has long been the accepted wine of choice for matching with seafood, in part because of racing
Couillaud brothers strive to carry acidity, but also because of the intense minerality and slight salinity of the wines. To glean as
on the tradition of making high
quality, long-lasting Muscadets much flavor and character as possible, many Muscadet wines are left sur lie (‘on the lees’) for a
and are today joined by the new period of several weeks or even months.
generation: Amélie, daughter of
Bernard, and her husband,
Vincent Dugué.
Les Frères Couillard vineyardbrands.com
Château de la Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie 2017 $167.90
Domaine Bernier Chardonnay Val de Loire IGP 2017 $143.90

Domaine des Baumard
The property has been in the
Baumard family since 1634, but it
was reconstituted and improved ANJOU-SAUMUR
by Jean Baumard, a professor of Anjou-Saumur is the largest winemaking region in the Loire Valley, and a wide variety of wines
viticulture and oenology, notably
with important vineyard – dry, sweet and sparkling – are made here, with the versatile white grape Chenin Blanc the
acquisitions in Savennieres and common thread. The region includes Savennières—home to gloriously dry, richly aromatic
Quarts de Chaumes. The estate Chenin Blanc, and Quarts de Chaume, a full-bodied sweet wine made possible by botrytis or
itself is situated right in the heart noble rot. Reds are akin to St. Nicolas de Bourgueil and Chinon, but are distinctly more intense
of the Anjou, in the town of
Rochefort-Sur-Loire. Since 1992 with a nuance all their own.
the estate has been run with
meticulous care by Jean’s son,
Florent, whose soft-spoken and
gentle manner belie the
extraordinary wines he makes. Domaine des Baumard
Fully organic, the Domaine is vintus.com
considered one of the top Domaine des Baumard La Calèche Anjou Blanc IGP 2017 $126.00
producers in the Loire Valley and 50% Chenin Blanc, 50% Chardonnay
a reference point for both
Savennieres and the sweet wines Domaine des Baumard Savennières 2016 $359.90 93 WS
of Coteaux du Layon.
Domaine des Baumard Rosé 2019 $143.90

Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 375ml 2015 $485.90 98 WS
Clau de Nell
In 2006, Anne-Claude Leflaive
and her husband, Christian began
to help new biodynamic wine
growers, and Clau de Nell was Domaine Clau de Nell wilsondaniels.com
one of their first clients. Only two
years later, after a complete re- (please in quire about back-vintages)
haul, they purchased the domaine, Clau de Nell Chenin Blanc Val de Loire IGP 2016 (6pk) $293.90
which is located in Anjou, in the
village of Ambillou-Château. The
vines range in age from 30 to 90 Clau de Nell Grolleau Anjou 2015 (6pk) $231.43 92DEC, 93W&S
years. The vineyard, situated on a Clau de Nell Grolleau Anjou 2013 1.5L (3pk) $274.29 93 W&S
south-facing knoll, consists of
eight contiguous hectares of
sandstone grit and red flint over Clau de Nell Cabernet Franc Anjou 2016 (6pk) $227.90 90 WS
tuffeau (the soft limestone of the
region). Biodynamically Clau de Nell Cabernet Franc Anjou 2013 1.5L (3pk) $257.14
cultivated since 2000 and yields
are extremely low. Sylvain Potin, Clau de Nell Cuvée Violette Anjou 2015 (6pk) $257.90 91 WS
well-versed in biodynamic
viticulture remains the manager Clau de Nell Cuvée Violette Anjou 2013 1.5L (3pk) $265.71 90 W&S
of the estate.
(50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Cabernet Franc)

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