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2021 Anjou Rouge “Clos de la Cerisaie”
Château d’Épiré

Château d’Epiré is a true guardian of Savennières history: for centuries, the property has been the source of profound, age-worthy Chenin Blanc that evokes the local schist soils with utter transparency. But the Anjou region is also Cabernet Franc territory, and as we well know, after every great white a great red must follow. It is only natural, then, that the Bizard family—who has owned Epiré since the 17th century—should make a bit of rouge, too.
Cabernet Franc in this terroir shares certain traits with white Savennières, as one might expect. It is a lively, brisk wine, showcasing pristine red fruit and a hint of herbs over a firm foundation of stony acidity. Unfined and unfiltered, the 2021 satisfies with a velvety fullness and mouth-watering finish.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2021 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Savennières |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Château d’Épiré |
Winemaker: | Luc Bizard |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1973, 1976, 2016, 1.5 ha |
Soil: | Schist |
Aging: | Wine ages in 30 hectoliter stainless steel tanks until spring |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region

2022 Cheverny
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2021 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
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Sourced from the village of Beaumont, located within the Chinon AOC, it is utterly delicious, with a perfect balance of fruit and earth.

2020 Saumur Champigny “La Marginale”
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Germain’s reds are grand examples of the heights biodynamic wines can achieve.

2022 Chinon “Les Petites Roches” Blanc
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A delightfully lean and bright blanc from Charles Joguet that leaves me yearning to exclaim, “This smells like a green apple picked fresh from a lemon tree!”

2022 Reuilly Pinot Noir
France | Loire
Gently perfumed and full of fresh berries with the bright, stony finish typical of wines from Reuilly

2022 Vouvray
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Gentle and refreshing on the palate, it boasts a delightful balance of stony minerality with luscious, almost honeyed fruit and flowery notes.

2022 Gros-Plant du Pays Nantais
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This racy wine is a perfect match for all types of crustaceans as well all by itself on a sunny afternoon.

2019 Savennières “Cuvée Spéciale”
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Powerful, cellar-worthy dry Chenin aged in chestnut, oak, & acacia.

2022 Bourgueil Rosé
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Pretty and elegant, with a taste of fresh peaches and nectarines, it is perfect for your summer table.
About The Region
Loire
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
More from Loire or France
2019 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2020 Vin de France Blanc Chenin “Centenaire”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2021 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson “La Molette”
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos de la Dioterie”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
Touraine “Fines Bulles”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2021 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2019 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2020 Vin de France Blanc Chenin “Centenaire”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2021 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson “La Molette”
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos de la Dioterie”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
Touraine “Fines Bulles”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2021 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.