Cote Roannaise, Loire Valley, France
Father-and-son team Georges and Romain Paires emphasize organic viticulture, hand harvesting, indigenous yeasts, and minimal sulfur to craft their superb portfolio of classic Roannaise wines. Pothiers’ Gamay Reference, is fashioned from Gamay Saint-Romain, a variation of Gamay found only in the Cote Roannaise and renowned for producing fleshy reds that are deliciously approachable at a young age. A translucent purple-ruby in the glass, Pothiers’ Reference bursts with scents of crushed red raspberries, strawberries, black cherry skin, and smoky granitic minerals. Fleshy and open for business, the wine greets the palate with chewy cherry fruit infused with a spine of granitic soil. Complex suggestions of violets, cloves, and Chinese five spice join lingering impressions of fresh red berries on the long, delicious finish. Effortlessly versatile, Pothiers’ Reference will make a lovely option at brunch, and a natural partner to young cheeses, light poultry dishes, charcuterie, mushrooms in a cream sauce, and pan-seared pork chops. Enjoy now and over the next two years.

Organically Farmed
A March 2020 newsletter selection