2018 Alexandre Bain, L. d'Ange, Vin de France
About this WINE
Alexandre Bain
Located in Pouilly-Fumé, Alexandre Bain does not make traditional Pouilly-Fumé style Sauvignon Blanc but something much more unique. After experiences in different vineyards across the Loire, Alexandre bought his five-hectare vineyard in 2007 in the lieu-dit of Boisfleury, Pouilly-Fumé. His vision was to create a unique expression of Sauvignon Blanc unlike anything else in the Central Valley.
Indeed, his styles of wines are not what you would expect to find from the appellation – they are some of the most expressive, terroir-driven wines.
So different are they from the Pouilly-Fumé appellation that the PDO deprived him from labelling the appellation on his bottles in 2014. Hence, he labels 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. There is very little intervention in his winemaking, which might be the essence of the precision and age-worthiness of his Sauvignon Blanc.
Today, the vineyard boasts 11 hectares of vines and has developed something of a cult following. The possible food pairings with Alexandre’s wines are some of the most exciting for sommeliers across the world. From his entry-level Pierre Précieuse and La Levée cuvées to his unique cuvées like Terre d’Obus and Les Grandes Hates, Alexandre’s range is one that 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.
Other Varieties
There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
The L. d'Ange vineyard is located just a stone's throw from Pierres Précieuses, firmly embedded in a vein of pure limestone, giving the wine a linear purity and salty backbone. Golden grapes, lime pickle, marmalade, and a hint of spice mingle on the palate. There is a trace of caramelisation (perhaps from a handful of botrytised grapes), offset by a vibrant, intense acidity and a lick of sea spray. The wine has undergone significant ageing – 24 months in steel and 24 months in wood – but it tastes impeccably fresh. I'd even say it could age further in bottle, a fascinating wine.
Henrietta Gullifer, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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