Delaware Store
IGP Val de Loire Pinot Noir Le P’tit Renaudat Domaine Valéry Renaudat 2023 DE
Tasting Notes: The wine comes from 1.5 hectares of Pinot Noir planted in multiple parcels scattered in Reuilly and Quincy, where the soils are clay-limestone over calcareous marl, full of Jurass... ic ammonite fossils, as in Menetou Salon and Sancerre. The grapes were destemmed and fermented in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks, where the wine matured for nine months before bottling. In the glass, Le P’tit Renaudat Pinot Noir 2023 has a limpid ruby red color that seems to be illuminated from inside the glass. The nose is understated but complex, with delicate spicy aromas of wild strawberry preserves, pomegranate, sandalwood, and fresh tea roses, which sometimes change places with suggestions of bergamot, lilac blossoms, basil, and hibiscus tea, as the wine evolves in the glass. On the palate, this supple, medium bodied Pinot Noir has a beautiful silky texture, and a solid core of sweet red fruit and allspice berries, all seasoned with cedar (as the sandalwood has evolved), and carried through a long, elegant finish by deep, mineral-buffered fruit acidity and ultra-fine-grained tannins. Drink now–2028. Read More
-
Valéry Renaudat grew up among the farms and vineyards of Berry, including the cereal farm purchased by his grandfather in 1942. His interests led him to studies in agronomy and viticulture, then to Oregon to work a harvest before going to Bordeaux, where he worked in a number of cellars, and Burgundy, where he honed his winemaking skills at Domaine Vincent Girardin. Valéry returned to his home region in 1999, and at the age of 25, established his own two-hectare domaine, buying vineyards in Reuilly, as well as becoming the only vigneron based in this appellation to reverse the trend and purchase vines in Quincy. Today he farms 18 hectares; three are planted to Pinot Noir; two hectares to Pinot Gris, with the balance in Sauvignon Blanc, and is considered a “reference” for the two appellations.
-
The Loire River runs 635 miles from the Cévennes Mountains in southeastern France to the Atlantic Coast and flows through (or near) over 60 different appellations. During its long history, the hillsides along the banks provided well-drained soils on which to grow grapes, and the river itself provided a transportation network to outside markets. Menetou-Salon has always existed in the shadow of its more famous neighbor, Sancerre. Economics seemed to have played a key role in suppressing the market for the region's wine - the vineyards are further away from the Loire River where commerce has always been livelier. IGP Val de Loire covers the entire region, and allows for multiple grape varieties.
-
The Pinot Noir grape is an ancient variety that has been grown for nearly two-thousand years in Burgundy, and is also famous for producing high-quality red wines around the world. This variety is known as being difficult to farm, due to its sensitivity to climatic conditions, such as wind and frost. The thin skins and tight conical grape bunches of Pinot Noir also make it susceptible to fungus and mildew. Some of the finest Pinot Noir wines are produced in cooler climate areas, and are characterized by a light body and complex aromas of earthiness and fruit.
-
