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Dominique Joseph, Le Petit Saint Vincent, Les Clos Lyzières

Loire Valley, France 2011 (750mL)
$28.00
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Dominique Joseph, Le Petit Saint Vincent, Les Clos Lyzières


The Loire Valley appellation traverses northern France along the stunning banks of the Loire River from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the city of Orléans in the east. From Pays Nantes, home to crisp whites of the Melon de Bourgogne varietal, through Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, the source of exquisite Cabernet Francs and Chenin Blancs, to the easternmost appellation of the Central Vineyards where Sauvignon Blanc finds its most classic expression, the Loire Valley is arguably the most diverse region in all of France and maybe in all of the world. It is home to incredible history, magnificent wines at their most classic and superb values across the board. Today’s offer is from an appellation that boasts history reaching back to Charlemagne and castles belonging to the Dukes of Anjou and French Kings of old. It is also stomping grounds for some of the most classic expressions of Cabernet Franc in the world. One of the most celebrated appellations within Anjou-Saumur is found in the Saumur-Champigny AOC, the home of today’s offer.  Boasting tiny, quality-conscious producers that rarely leave their native France, this small appellation is delivering pure, complex, mind-blowing wines.  The Clos Lyzières is one such example.  The fruit comes from a single vineyard of 55-year-old vines planted in clay and limestone soils around the village of Varrains.  Consequently, this Cabernet Franc delivers pure and unparalleled power thanks to the hefty dose of clay amidst the limestone.
 
Fourth-generation owner and winemaker, Dominique Joseph of Le Petit Saint Vincent has organically farmed his vineyards for twenty-three years and maintained certification for four years. Known locally as ‘Pelo’, he has run the family operations with his own personal touch since 1990. This particular, single-vineyard wine is crafted in his hauntingly beautiful, multi-chamber tuffeau cellar below the property with the utmost care. The hand-harvested fruit is entirely de-stemmed and undergoes a 22 to 30 day maceration in concrete. The wine is traditionally stomped underfoot and fermentation is climate-controlled in concrete. During fermentation the wine is pumped over for delicate extraction and after being racked is aged in concrete vats for 6-8 months to retain the purity of fruit and distinct terroir. The resulting wine is truly one of the most generous and approachable examples of the Loire Valley.

This 2011 Le Petit Saint Vincent, ‘Clos Lyzières’ from Saumur-Champigny displays a dark ruby, light purple core that moves to magenta and pink reflections on the rim. Aromas on the nose are driven by wild violets amidst red and purple flowers, redcurrant, tart blackberry, black cherry and black plum woven into leather, wet forest floor, flower stems, lavender, sage and various wild herbs over wet rocks. It is challenging to fully encapsulate the complex aromas and flavors of this wine, but it is an intense joy to experience every time you put your nose in the glass. The palate delivers structured yet soft tannins and a silken mouthfeel that coats the palate with flavors of black and red fruit, wild flowers and powerful minerality that seemingly goes on for an eternity. One of the most memorable and totally unexpected bottles of red I have encountered over the past few months, this wine is bigger and more concentrated than examples like Olga Raffault but every bit as pleasurable. This wine has many years of life ahead, I highly advise putting some bottles down for 5-6 years, you will be stunned at what this wine becomes. If consuming now, ideally decant the wine for about 30 minutes and serve into large Bordeaux stems at just above cellar temperature. For pairing, try this exotic lamb and vegetable recipe which will be perfect for a quickly approaching winter evening.
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Country
France
Region
Loire Valley
Sub-Region
FranceSaumur-Champigny
Soil
Limestone and Clay
Farming
Organic
Blend
Cabernet Franc
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
None

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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