Skip to main content
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
Toggle Navigation Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Your Cart

2021 Val de Loire Blanc “Cirrus”

Éric Chevalier
Discount Eligible $32.00
SOLD OUT

Fié Gris (also known as Sauvignon Gris), the rare and more herbaceous relative of Sauvignon Blanc, finds a happy expression in Eric Chevalier’s ocean-neighboring vineyards of the Pays Nantais. His Cirrus bottling takes a playful approach to the variety with a skin maceration that teases out depth to its aromatic qualities: fresh guava and (not to be overly-specific, but) the white milky sap from the stem of a young fig. Light tannins and distinct salinity make this a perfect candidate for aperitif hour with classic accompaniments—oil-cured olives, soft cheeses, and anchovies.

Allyson Noman


Technical Information
Wine Type: white
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: Fié Gris
Appellation: IGP Val de Loire
Country: France
Region: Loire
Producer: Éric Chevalier
Vineyard: 20 years old
Aging: Raised in both stainless steel and 450L barrels for 18 months
Farming: Organic (certified)
Alcohol: 13%

More from this Producer or Region

About The Region

Loire

map of 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 Kimmeridgian 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

Discount Eligible $39.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $34.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $31.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $59.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $32.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $75.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $30.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $66.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $65.00
AT CART MAX
Discount Eligible $46.00
AT CART MAX
$269.00 $363.00
$269.00 $363.00
$269.00 $363.00
AT CART MAX

Sampler Includes:

2023  Vin de France Brut “Elle est pas bulle, la vie?” • Catherine & Pierre Breton  $25.00   
2023  Muscadet “Le Clos de la Butte” • Eric Chevalier  $22.00   
2023  Quincy • Domaine Trotereau  $27.00   
2023  Vouvray • Champalou  $28.00   
2023  Pouilly-Fumé “Vieilles Vignes” • Régis Minet  $34.00   
2023  Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé • Domaine de Reuilly  $24.00   
2023  Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes” • Domaine de la Chanteleuserie  $18.00   
2023  Chinon “Les Granges” • Bernard Baudry  $27.00   
2023  Val de Loire Rouge Grolleau • Catherine & Pierre Breton  $29.00   
2023  Sancerre Rouge • Daniel Chotard  $40.00
2022  Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes” • Domaine des Roches Neuves  $42.00   
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray” • Grange Saint Sauveur  $49.00

Normally $363.00
SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $269.00
(a 25% discount)

Discount Eligible $22.00
AT CART MAX
Inspiring Thirst

I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.

Inspiring Thirst, page 171