GUILLAUME NOIRE
Rablay-sur-Layon
Loire
A fervent interest in environmental movements and organic farming prompted young winemaker Guillaume Noire to leave a career in branding and advertising to pursue a new life in the Loire Valley.
Under the auspices of other local winemakers such as the Ménard family, Guillaume has learned to make wine naturally in both the vineyard and cellar. Today he cultivates just a few hectares, planted at Chenin, Cabernet and Grolleau mainly, in Rablay-sur-Layon in the Anjou district of the Loire Valley.
The local appellation of Côteaux-du-Layon is prized for sweet wines which it exclusively produces, but Guillaume is part of a movement of winemakers making stunning dry wines classified under the humble Vin de France designation.
Guillaume farms without the use of any synthetic herbicides or pesticides. In the cellar, his approach is equally straightforward and sincere. Quite simply, Guillaume’s wines are made from “du raisin et juste du raisin” - grapes and nothing more.
Ch
Vintage 2021
Style White
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Chenin blanc
ABV 11.5%
Soils Silt, Sandy loam, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking This direct press of Chenin represent the most limited on Guilaume’s cuvées. Spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeasts in vat and aged in fibreglass for 5 months. Racked once prior to bottling.
As ever, no filtration, fining nor SO2 is added at this stage.
Tasting Note This release is just beautiful. Fresh yellow apple, citrus zest, chamomile in a salivating fruity finish.
Ch M01
Vintage 2020
Style Orange
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Chenin blanc
ABV 12%
Soils Silt, Sandy loam, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking A three-week maceration of Chenin Blanc from one of Guillaume’s tiny parcels in Rablay-sur-Layon on a gentle slope of red sand and gravel. This is a blend of free run and pressed juice. Guillaume favours fibreglass for ageing and particularly for this wine to accentuate Chenin’s natural tension. Bottled after racking without filtration and SO2-free.
Tasting Note A playful nose offering generous tropical fruit and a gingery touch on the finish. The bracing, fresh acidity perfectly balances the riper notes.
ChGg M02
Vintage 2021
Style Orange
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Chenin blanc, Grolleau gris
ABV
Soils Sandy loam, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking Harvested by hand and co-fermented whole bunches of Chenin and Grolleau Gris, then slowly pressed with a vertical hydraulic press. As for the straight maceration of Chenin, this wine is made by blending free run and pressed juice. Aged in fibreglass over 6 months. Bottled unfitered without any added SO2.
Tasting Note A charming orange wine with a playful nose of mango, passion fruit and a spicy finish. The old vines here (40-50 years old) contribute to the weight and concetration of the fruit.
SaGaGg
Vintage 2022
Style Rosé Orange
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Grolleau Noire
ABV 12.5%
Soils Clay, Silt, Sand
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Gamay and 5% Grolleau Noire. Vines are an average age of 30 years old. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are hand harvested and processed as a blend of whole bunches and free run juice. This is then added to a one week macerated juice of Gamay and Grolleau Noire. The white and red grapes are then macerated together for a further one week. Once this is complete the juice is then matured in fibre glass for 6 months before bottling. The wine is unfined, unfiltered and sees no sulfur additions.
Tasting Note Dried cherry, spiced quince lend to sandalwood and peppery aromas. This as nice grip on palate and sits somewhere in between a rosé and an orange wine.
Ga
Vintage 2022
Style Red
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Gamay
ABV 12%
Soils
Farming Organic
Winemaking The average age of the wines is 45 to 50 years old. The Gamay whole bunches are processed in a mixture of free run juice and pressed juice just after pressing. The wine is then matured in neutral fibre glass tanks for 8 months. This is unfiltered, unfined and no SO2 was added at any stage.
Tasting Note Beautiful wild blackberry and blueberry notes, blend in with aromas of dried flowers and leather tones. Light and earthy.
Cf
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Cabernet franc
ABV 13.5%
Soils Silt, Sandy laom, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking Fermented in vat using whole clusters over a period of 3 weeks. Maceration for the Cabernet in 2020 was a little bit shorter than the previous vintage aiming for a juicier lighter expression. The wine is aged in fibreglass for 10 months and racked twice before bottling.
Tasting Note This beautiful Cabernet franc is made using whole bunches, resulting in a bright and juicy wine with hints of blueberries, mint and a subtle earthy note. Delicate on the tannins.
Gn
Vintage 2019
Style Red
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Grolleau Noir
ABV 13.5%
Soils Silt, Sandy laom, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking A long semi-carbonic maceration of six and a half weeks. Very gentle extraction avoiding pumpovers but rather simply keeping the cap wet with the occasional hand-punch down. This is also aged in neutral fibreglass vats for up to 6 months. It is racked once and bottled without any added SO2.
Tasting Note This Grolleau shows the rusticity and depth the grape has to offer. Pleasantly structured and grippy, offering voluptuous plummy fruit and spice.
CsGn
Vintage 2020
Style Red
Region Rablay-sur-Layon, Anjou
Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau Noir
ABV 12.5%
Soils Silt, Sand, Clay
Farming Organic
Winemaking A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Grolleau Noir. Vines are an average of 30 years old. Whole bunches are hand harvested, macerated and fermented for 2 weeks. The wine is composed of a blend of free run juice and pressed must, just after pressing with a vertical hydraulic press. Bottled without SO2.
Tasting Note