Loire, France
Although produced in the Touraine AOC of the Loire, Laurent and his wife Sonya choose to declassify this Gamay as a Vin de France (VdF, for short). Speaking of the vineyards, the grapes for this gorgeous red come from 55-75 year old parcels that are farmed organically. Work in the winery is very low intervention and natural with techniques like whole cluster fermentation, carbonic maceration and concrete tank usage prominent in production. No fining, no filtering and no SO2 added at the time of bottling.
This is a style of Gamay that's juicy, easy to drink and full of fruity goodness. There's undertones of earth but this never strays from the intense core of deliciously ripe red fruit. Some hints of liquorice and dried red flowers in the background add a fun little pop of complexity and excitement.
Very food-friendly and versatile. Down it with classic bratwurst sausages. Try it with marinated and grilled salmon (preferably with a thick marinade and make sure it's grilled, it needs the hint of smokiness in the background). It's also great with any of rotisserie chicken, spiced shrimp, medium cheeses, mushroom tart or take-out falafel.
