Vincent Gaudry Les Vignes de Chavignol Sancerre Rouge 2022
Vincent Gaudry Les Vignes de Chavignol Sancerre Rouge 2022
For those in the know, Vincent Gaudry has been handcrafting some of the most essential, soulful wines of the Loire River Valley for over 30 years in his craftsman cellar in the tiny hamlet of Chambre, near Sury-en-Vaux, Sancerre. Vincent is a true minimalist whose guiding principle is “Trust in Nature.” The domaine was established by Vincent’s grandfather, and Vincent was only 16 years old when he joined his father in the family business in 1991.
Vincent immediately began converting to organic farming in 1995, obtaining organic certification in 2002. With a desire to go even further, he developed a deep appreciation for biodynamic farming and the balance it brought to his vineyards. Vincent began farming his vineyards with biodynamic principles in 2000, becoming the first producer in Sancerre with a Demeter certification in 2004, upon witnessing firsthand the positive relationship between the vineyards, forests, and their animal inhabitants brought on by his regenerative agricultural practices. Vincent works with nature and a sober pragmatism to maintain a balance in his vineyards and wine. Today, he and his wife Séverine farm 11 hectares of vineyards with certified organic, biodynamic, and regenerative practices.
Gaudry wines are in tune with the elements, instilling a feeling of being profoundly connected to the land. Driven by his deep respect for the wisdom of past generations of local vignerons, Gaudry’s wines are inspired by history and, as a result, are among the most transparent, soulful, and authentic in the region. They are also amongst the most limited due to his artisanal scale.
One important trait to note about Vincent is his warm, generous and convivial nature. Of course Vincent’s wines are world-class and profound in substance, yet he does not take himself too seriously and is quick to crack a joke and open his best bottles for guests. His quest for quality and authenticity is all about living life with great energy and joy. He is not interested in accolades or notoriety—rather he is content to share his lessons learned from previous generations in Sancerre, showing what is possible in the region.
With all of the focus on his brilliant white wines, it is easy to overlook Gaudry’s two world-class red cuvées from pinot noir and (the rare) pinot fin grapes that rival the best Burgundy has to offer.
Les Vignes de Chavignol Sancerre Rouge is Gaudry’s top red cuvée, made from two famous, low-yielding plots of old-vine pinot fin (a rare, old, small-berry clone of pinot noir) in Chavignol, called Les Chenaux and La Vaud. The La Vaud parcel belongs to the important Chavignolet lieu-dit, a magical vineyard located in a heavily-wooded amphitheater tucked away on the southwestern side of Chavignol. La Vaud is split into two parcels—the older vines higher up on the slope go into this Le Vignes de Chavignol cuvée, while the younger vines on the lower slope go into Vincent’s cuvée Vincengétorix. Les Chenaux is a stunning 60+ year-old parcel of pinot fin which lies directly south of the Chavignol village, leased to Vincent by Anne Vatan. In this regard, Vincent Gaudry is carrying the flag of traditional Chavignol rouge from this historic and important vineyard.
Gaudry’s red wines are produced with the same spirit and reverence for history as his white wines, utilizing the traditions and lessons learned from the previous century in Sancerre. Whole clusters are hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented with native yeasts in used 228L French barrels. Les Vignes de Chavignol spends 18 months in the same 228L barrels before being bottled according to the lunar calendar, unfined and unfiltered, with minimal sulfur. Naturally low yields, ruthless pruning, organic viticulture, and late harvesting produce a highly-concentrated, complex snapshot of these two historic pinot fin sites in Chavignol.
Ever the quintessential craftsman in every level of his work, Vincent is equally dedicated to ensuring the safe voyage of his wines through an investment in the best corks in the market to seal his bottles. Vincent’s corks come from an artisan producer on the island of Sardinia. His corks are natural, produced without the use of chemical treatments or glues, and are aged for 13 years. The resulting corks, which are exceptionally dense and strong, are checked by machine and guaranteed against defects like cork taint. Each cork sealing a bottle of Vincent Gaudry Chavignol rouge costs him an average of three euros to produce.
Vincent Gaudry’s Le Vignes de Chavignol sets a new standard for Sancerre rouge, displaying complex fruit and mineral elements, backed by unbelievable structure and texture that ensure this wine will improve in bottle for decades to come. Produced in extremely limited quantities.