Vincent Gaudry Vincengétorix Sancerre Rouge 2022
Vincent Gaudry Vincengétorix 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 share 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.
Gaudry’s Vincengétorix Sancerre rouge is a superb red cuvée from two vineyards: a 35-year-old massale selection parcel planted on Kimmeridgian calcareous clay soil in the village of Sury-en-Vaux, and La Vaud in Chavignol at 200-300m. 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 (65+) go into the Le Vignes de Chavignol cuvée, while the younger vines on the lower slope (35+) go into cuvée Vincengétorix.
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. For Vincengétorix, whole clusters are hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented with native yeasts in a single, large, 60-hectoliter used French foudre. Vincengétorix spends 18 months in the same foudre and in varying proportions of stainless steel vats to suit the vintage 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 & noir sites in the villages of Sury-en-Vaux and Chavignol.
The cuvée name Vincengétorix is a play on words, blending his name (Vincent) with the regionally-famous historic figure Vercingetorix, a Gallic king (86 BC) who united the Gauls in a failed revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars. Vercingetorix is a local hero for being the last Gallic leader to resist the Roman invasion of Gaul, the future France. Vercingetorix is perhaps best known as an inspiration for the French comic book series The Adventures of Asterix.
Gaudry’s Vincengétorix Sancerre Rouge is a very pretty, elegant style of pinot with a beautiful texture and a long, saline, and mineral finish that will ensure this wine improves in bottle for decades to come. Produced in extremely limited quantities.