2019 Alexandre Bain, Pierre Précieuses, Vin de France

Alexandre Bain

Located in Pouilly Fumé, Alexandre Bain does not make traditional Pouilly Fumé style Sauvignon Blanc but something much more unique and atypical to the appellation.

After several experiences in different vineyards across the Loire, Alexandre bought his 5-hectare vineyard in 2007 in the lieu-dit Boisfleury, Pouilly Fumé. His vision was to create a unique expression of Sauvignon Blanc, nowhere to be found in the Central Valley.

Indeed, his styles of wines are not what you would expect to see from the appellation - they are some of the most expressive terroir-driven wines. They do not fit the standardized Pouilly Fumé appellation because the PDO deprived him of labeling the appellation on his bottles in 2014. Hence, he marks his wines under ‘Vin de France’, which works to his advantage as it allows his wines to show true individuality and freedom of expression.

Alexandre works organically and biodynamically; everything is harvested by hand, and he ploughs his vines with horses' aid. There is little intervention in his winemaking, which is the essence of the precision and age-worthiness of his Sauvignon Blanc.

Today, the vineyard boasts 11 hectares of vines and has become a cult grower that all Sommeliers and wine connoisseurs seek. The wine and food pairings possible from Alexandre’s wines are some of the most exciting for sommeliers worldwide. From his entry-level Pierre Precieuse and La Leveé cuvees to his unique cuvees such as Terre d’Obus and Les Grandes Hates, Alexandre’s range is one all should discover.

Vin de France

Vin de France is a wine classification in France that was introduced in 2010 to replace the former Vin de Table category. It represents a more flexible and modern approach to French wine production, offering winemakers greater freedom in terms of grape sourcing, blending, and winemaking techniques.

Unlike wines with controlled appellations such as AOC Alsace or Vin de Pays, which are tied to specific regions within France, Vin de France wines can be sourced from grapes grown anywhere in the country. This gives winemakers the freedom to experiment with grapes from different regions, allowing for greater creativity and innovation.

Winemakers can blend grape varieties from different regions or even different countries to create unique flavour profiles. This flexibility enables the production of a wide range of wine styles, from traditional varietal wines to innovative blends.

While Vin de France wines offer greater flexibility in production, they still must adhere to certain labelling requirements. The label must include the designation "Vin de France," along with the producer's name and the volume of alcohol. Additional information such as grape variety, vintage, and specific geographical origin may also be included on the label.

Vin de France wines may not have the prestige or strict regulations of wines from controlled appellations. However, they can still offer excellent quality and value. Many producers use Vin de France as a platform for experimentation and innovation, resulting in a diverse range of wines that cater to various tastes and preferences.

Vin de France wines are often positioned as versatile, everyday wines that are accessible and easy to understand. They can offer a good balance between quality and affordability, making them popular choices for everyday consumption.

Sauvignon Blanc

An important white grape in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley that has now found fame in New Zealand and now Chile. It thrives on the gravelly soils of Bordeaux and is blended with Sémillon to produce fresh, dry, crisp  Bordeaux Blancs, as well as more prestigious Cru Classé White Graves.

It is also blended with Sémillon, though in lower proportions, to produce the great sweet wines of Sauternes. It performs well in the Loire Valley and particularly on the well-drained chalky soils found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, where it produces bone dry, highly aromatic, racy wines, with grassy and sometimes smoky, gunflint-like nuances.

In New Zealand, Cloudy Bay in the 1980s began producing stunning Sauvignon Blanc wines with extraordinarily intense nettly, gooseberry, and asparagus fruit, that set Marlborough firmly on the world wine map. Today many producers are rivalling Cloudy Bay in terms of quality and Sauvignon Blanc is now New Zealand`s trademark grape.

It is now grown very successfully in Chile producing wines that are almost halfway between the Loire and New Zealand in terms of fruit character. After several false starts, many South African producers are now producing very good quality, rounded fruit-driven Sauvignon Blancs.