Tasting Notes
Pineau d’Aunis is a native grape of the area around the city of Tours in the Loire Valley. While it is little known outside this area, it is a grape variety that can be used to create exciting red wines of great complexity and interest. This lovely Pineau d’Aunis comes from vines that flourish in soils of red clay, quartz and limestone in the Jasnieres appellation even though Robinot has not applied for appellation status.
We just love Pineau d’Aunis! It has spice notes (think white pepper, cloves, star anise) and some herbal characters at the end making quite a complex yet light and drinkable at the same time. It is rapidly becoming one of our favourite grapes especially when you find profound examples such as this and the highly drinkable and pure examples of Pascal Simonutti that we also import.
There is no sulphur added at any time during the winemaking process and the vines are certified organic by Ecocert. It is not aged for as long as the Camille, so is perfect for immediate drinking. It is a light and joyful wine that still has structure and complexity from the purity of the fruit and the barrel ageing it receives. - Importer Note
Jean-Pierre Robinot is a legend! His wines are served in the best wine bars in Paris, Copenhagen and New York. When we drop into the famous l'Entree des Artistes in Paris and ask for the most interesting wine in their cellar, it is a Robinot that is reverentially brought to the table.
He's in his early 70s with the energy and enthusiasm of a teenager. He had one of the first natural wine bars in Paris, called l'Ange Vin, and, while living in Paris also was one of the founders of Rouge et Blanc, still one of France's most influential wine magazines. But he eventually sold the bar and in 2000 bought a vineyard, just out of the village of Chahaignes, where he now lives. It's also where he grew up.
This is almost midway between Tours and Le Mans in the Loire Valley, although more specifically in the Loir Valley (the Loir is a tributary of the Sarthe River which eventually flows into the Loire River. He has about 10 hectares, split across several locations. Some of the vineyards would be classified as Jasnières if he worked within the appellation rules.
All his wines are fermented naturally (often very slowly over more than a year) and his still wines in old barrels in humid cellars cut directly into the hills many years ago, some so old that it's hard to believe that they stay together. He is patient, holding wines in barrel until he believes they are ready, which can sometimes be more than 5 years.
Jean-Pierre has two domaines that he releases his wines under. The first in Les Vignes de l'Ange Vin where the wines are made from plots of vines that he owns and manages organically and biodynamically. His other wines are released under the L'Opera des Vins label. Here he buys the grapes from friends who also manage their vineyards in the same way as Jean-Pierre. In both cases, the approach to the winemaking is the same.
He has always had the patience to wait until the wine is ready to release rather than rushing it to the market. And the results show the wisdom of that approach.
- Importer Note
Product Type | Wine Red Other Varietals & Blends |
Volume | 750ml |
Country | France |
Region | Loire Valley |
Sub Region | Jasnieres |
Winemaking Practices | Natural |
Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |