Loire, France
Vin de France
The Domaine was founded in 1880 and is now run by the 5th generation of Sanzays in the Loire valley, near the town of Saumur. Under the stewardship of Didier and Celine, and with the help of their son Ludovic, the estate has grown to 28 hectares and received official organic certification in 2019. Although it should be noted, since they live on the estate, they've had delicate and thoughtful agricultural practices since the early 90s.
100% Cabernet Franc coming from 40 year old vines, planted on clay-limestone soils, and with lower than average yields. Of note, the wine is bottled in the middle of fermentation with 22 g of sugar remaining per liter. When the fermentation ends in the bottles, the wine is then quickly disgorged and the result is a brut nature wine with no added sugar or sulfur.
This is a very fruity Petnat with citrus, wild raspberry and summer strawberry vibes. The bubbles are elegant and the intensity is persistent with a very slight yeasty note on the back of the palate. A terrific showcase of terroir and winemaking technique, drinking absolutely beautifully.
Petnats have a wide-ranging pair-ability because of their bright flavours, high acidity and cleansing bubbles. So, you could drink this with everything from a dressed up cheese plate with pickled veg to a risotto to a fisherman's catch seafood dinner. Sky's the limit for food pairing options!