Vincent Gaudry - Sancerre Rouge Vincengetorix 2020

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Producer	Vincent Gaudry
Country	France
Region	Loire Valley
Subregion	Sancerre
Varietal	Pinot Noir
Vintage	2020
Sku	12013004
Size	750ml

     

With all of the focus on his brilliant white wines, it is easy to overlook that Vincent also makes sensational, complex red wines from pinot noir and (the rare) pinot fin grapes, with whole-cluster fermentations that bring structure and elegance to the gorgeous fruit. His ‘Vincengétorix’ cuvée is a superb red from a 1ha, 35-year-old massale selection parcel planted on Kimmeridgian calcareous clay soil in the village of Sury-en-Vaux, which is also worked by horse, displaying complex fruit and mineral elements; savory, long, and satisfying. It’s a very pretty, elegant style of pinot with beautiful texture and a long, saline finish. Vincengétorix is a profound pinot noir and one of the top red Sancerre wines produced in extremely limited quantities, capable of improving for a decade or more. 

Vinification – The pinot grapes for Vincengétorix are hand-harvested in small crates in whole bunches and placed into large 60-hectoliter used French foudres where they undergo spontaneous whole cluster fermentation with native yeasts. Vincent uses whole bunches and adapts the level of extraction to obtain very fine tannins. Malolactic fermentation is spontaneous. It is aged on the fine lees for 18 months in the same foudre and in varying proportions of stainless steel vats to suit the vintage before being bottled according to the lunar calendar, unfined and unfiltered.

Sancerre

Site: Sury-en-Vaux

Lieu-dit: Vincengétorix at 200-300m

Exposure: South/southwest

Grapes: Pinot Noir and Pinot Fin (planted from old massale selection)

Vine Age: 35+ years old

Soil: Kimmeridgian calcareous clay with terres blanches bedrock

Vinification: Whole clusters spontaneously fermented with natural yeasts in one large 60-hectoliter used French foudre

Aging: 18 months on the lees in stainless steel tanks and foudres

MLF: Spontaneous

Farming: Certified Organic (Ecocert), Certified Biodynamic (Demeter)

Fining/Filtration: None

Vegan: Yes

For those in the know, Vincent Gaudry has been handcrafting some of the most essential, soulful wines of the Loire River Valley for over 30 years…

in his craftsman cellar in the tiny hamlet of Chambre near Sury-en-Vaux, Sancerre. These days, it may be easy to overlook Sancerre as a simple Parisian bistro wine or dismiss sauvignon blanc for the intellectual credentials of chenin blanc; however, one visit with Vincent Gaudry turns those who meet him into true believers. A journey through the Sancerre terroir with a virtuoso like Vincent is akin to stepping through an unmarked door into a hidden universe filled with colors, flavors, and textures one did not previously know existed. We refer to Vincent Gaudry as the “last Jedi of Sancerre,” due to his mastery of the complexities of the Sancerre terroir and his humble transparency and insight when speaking about his deeply held beliefs regarding the power of the earth and energy exchange between himself, his vineyards, and wines. Vincent is a true minimalist whose guiding principle is “Trust in Nature.” Gaudry wines are in tune with the elements, instilling a feeling of being profoundly connected to the land. Driven by his deep respect for the wisdom of past generations of local vignerons, Gaudry’s wines are inspired by history and, as a result, are among the most transparent, soulful, and authentic in the region. 

The domaine was established by Vincent’s grandfather with only a few hectares of vines before being passed to Vincent’s father, Georges, who gradually enlarged the estate to 9.5 hectares. Vincent was only 16 years old when he joined his father in the family business in 1991, taking over entirely in 1993 when his father fell unexpectedly ill. Today, he and his wife Séverine, who handles the administrative aspects of the domaine, farm 11 hectares of vineyards with organic, biodynamic, and regenerative practices. Getting rid of the chemicals in the vineyard became the first priority for young Vincent. He immediately began converting to organic farming in 1995, obtaining organic certification in 2002. With a desire to go even further, he developed a deep appreciation for biodynamic farming and the balance it brought to his vineyards. He began farming his vineyards with biodynamic principles in 2000, becoming the first producer in Sancerre with a Demeter certification in 2004. Witnessing firsthand the positive relationship between the vineyards, forests, and their animal inhabitants brought on by his regenerative agricultural practices, Vincent works with nature and a sober pragmatism to maintain a balance in his vineyards and wine.