2020 Y. Amirault "Les Malgagnes" Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Loire Valley, FranceABOUT THIS WINE If Le Grand Clos is the premier cru of Bourgueil, Les Malgagnes is its peer in Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil. The Amirault family has bottled wine from Malgagnes since 1947 (an auspicious vintage!), and they now farm 2 hectares of 50 year old vines in this famed lieu dit on red clay and limestone soils. Hand harvested in successive passes, destemmed, natural yeast fermentation in oak vats with a 5 week maceration. Aging is for 1 13 months

of course with the exception of the punch-downs…which are by foot

some 30 hectolitres per hectare

Pasteur and Koch

with little if any new oak

with south facing exposition

From these two

Yann created a line of négociant wines in 2016 following strict criteria that all vineyards must be plowed and farmed without any chemical pesticides or fertilizers

both of whom grew up in San Francisco and in 2021 celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary

This grape has evolved to adapt to the extreme growing conditions of Pico Island

In general terms Marcoux is always inclined towards red-fruit flavors with a smoky stoniness that emerges with age

seafood salads and spicy oriental dishes

Aromatic grapes with floral undertones reminiscent of strawberries