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2017 Chignin Pinot Noir
André & Michel QuenardMichel, Guillaume, and Romain Quenard, the old-school father-and-sons team who run this small family domaine today, work mostly with native Savoyard graves—Jacquère, Mondeuse, Bergeron (aka Roussanne)—on the steep clay-limestone slopes of Chignin. However, they have also listened to the irresistible songs of Gamay and Pinot Noir and tried—with tremendous success—to craft their own covers to Beaujolais’s and Burgundy’s original compositions. You might fairly wonder whether these grapes have a hard time ripening in the foothills of the Alps, but the Quenards’ vines enjoy southeastern exposure, which means they receive plenty of direct sun during the region’s generally warm, dry growing seasons. This red is ethereal, with fragrant notes of cherries, raspberries, and pine. It’s a perfect picnic Pinot Noir, light enough for drinking on its own or pairing with crudités and charcuterie.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Chignin |
Country: | France |
Producer: | André & Michel Quenard |
Vineyard: | .65 ha, 20-25 years |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 12% |
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About The Producer
André & Michel Quenard
The Savoie is a picture of fairy-tale perfection: snow-capped peaks, rolling hills, and sparkling mountain streams. This idyllic region is where Michel Quenard farms twenty-two hectares of vineyards along the steep slopes around Chignin. His grandfather started the domaine in the 1930s. Though he slowly increased his vineyard holdings, he mostly sold off his wine. It wasn’t until 1960 that Michel’s father, André, began bottling under their own label. Michel joined the domaine in 1976. Today, he is joined by his sons, Guillaume and Romain. Their cuvées go beyond the simple “eclectic” that categorizes wines from Savoie; they are unique revelations that reflect the complexity of their terroir and the artistry of this master.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.