60km north of Nantes in the village of La Chappelle-Glain, Xaviere Hardy makes nuanced, delicate wines from an isolated 1.5 hectares on blue schist, (hence Les Terres Bleues).
After close analysis of the terroir, and lobbying the local council to allow her to do so: Xaviere planted her vines in 2013. Being the only vineyard for miles around and with no precedent to follow, she focused her efforts on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Grolleau, trained in the seldom-seen (in the Loire) Albarello style to help with sun exposure.
Working in such a unique way isn't the easiest path, but the wines are clearly worth it.
Ironically as has been the story for many of our growers, a tricky vintage for a winemaker can often lead to profoundly dazzling wines: and these 2021's are case in point. The vintage saw Xaviere's yields battered by frost and mildew, opting to direct-press many of her red varieties rather than macerate.
We had a tiny number of releases from Xaviere's cellar this year, though we're thrilled to have any wines at all from her 2021, particularly ones as exemplary as these. With two of the three already sold out (there was tiny quantities to go round) the remaining cuvee is available now- whilst it lasts!
Bottled with no additions, and always one of our favourite arrivals of the year, Ma Garance Voyageuse is an equal-thirds assemblage of three Grolleau vinifications: a whole-bunch infusion, a proper carbonic maceration, and a de-stemmed maceration aged in barrel.
AVAILABLE NOW
NEW 2021 - Ma Garance Voyageuse - Grolleau
FOR WHOLESALE ENQUIRIES: HELLO@WINESUTB.COM
SOLD OUT
NEW 2021 - Baraka - Grolleau
Hand-harvested, pressed directly to fibreglass tank, aged for 9 months on the fine lees in 5-10 year old barrels. Profoundly direct and alive. Rare as hen's teeth. If you got one of our 60 bottles we received, lucky you.
NEW 2021 - Jeanette VO - Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir
Hand harvested, and pressed slowly but directly, this a roughly equal split of Pinots Gris and Noir. Fermented in fibreglass, raised in 5-10 year old barrels for 9 months. Beautifully supple and textural, bright fruited. We had a touchmore to go round than Baraka, but this is still to be considered as one of those mythical horses with horns.
Here's to more wine from Xaviere in 2022 - but we'll take a vintage as thrilling as this in tiny quantities any day.
