Domaine Grosbois - Chinon - Gabare 2022

Nicolas and Sylvain Grosbois grew up along the Loire River—the gabares, those flat-bottomed boats that used to sail upriver loaded with salt, roof tiles, and wine, are a testament to their region’s working-class heritage. It is to these boatmen and fishermen that they pay tribute with this cuvée, the estate’s most approachable and immediately indulgent wine. After a global tour of wine regions (Chile, Oregon, Australia, New Zealand), Nicolas returned in 2005 to this 15-hectare estate, founded in 1850 on the upper slopes of the Chinon hillside. His brother Sylvain joined him in 2019. Together, they converted the vineyard to organic and biodynamic farming, adopted indigenous yeasts, and reduced sulfur use as much as possible, eventually labeling their wines “Méthode Nature” starting in 2020.

Gabare comes from sandy-clay plots in the middle of the Panzoult hillside—a terroir of yellow sands that naturally softens the tannins of Cabernet Franc and gives it its full mellowness and roundness. Hand-harvested and sorted on two sorting tables, with a yield of 35 hl/ha. Concrete tank: 2–3 days of pre-fermentation, 12 days of fermentation, and 3 days of post-fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged for 12 months in concrete tanks, “a mineral shell, a true cocoon to preserve the purity and freshness of the Cabernet Franc,” with no added sulfur.

Decant for 1 hour; serve at 15 °C. Food pairings: duck breast, lamb, tapenade. Aging potential: 2024–2032.