Pierre Bonhomme
Pierre Bonhomme, Le Telquel, Vin de France, Loire, Gamay, 2023
Gamay. WHAT could be better?! Cute dog on the label…I know—we are hitting all the high notes with this one. Gamay is the pathway to spring: its juicy red wine, tulips, and all things sunny and crisp. There are loads of berry notes on this wine with a touch of earthiness. The wine making process is using whole cluster fermentation, meaning the grapes are not removed from the stems. The maceration of skins on juice and fermentation is 15 days and then the wine kicks it in wood vats for 6 months. Pierre Olivier honed his skills with one of the best in the Loire Valley, Thierry Puzelat. This wine label started as a collaboration project between Pierre & Thierry based on sourced fruit when vintages for their personal vines were not great…this is the continuation of that project. Le Telquel, a name that is actually a French pun, is a sheet delight! Whenever it hits our shelves it immediately sells out. I think gamay as a grape is incredibly approachable for all palettes, it’s not going to be the fullest bodied wine in the room, but it has such a soft and enticing appeal. When you add master natural wine makers into the mix, we can’t be stopped!
Serving temp: Cellar temp around 65 degrees, store in a dark and cool spot!
Pairing: Perfect roasted chicken; pan fried skate wing!