Domaine de Reuilly - 'Vin Gris' - Rosé of Pinot Gris - AOC Reuilly, Loire Valley, FR - 2024

Satellite's Hot Take

A ludicrous level of quality and deliciousness in a bottle. Truly good all around.

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Pinot Gris is a true shapeshifter, capable of producing wildly different styles depending on where it’s grown and how it’s handled. In Reuilly, a small appellation of the Upper Loire, the traditional approach gives us a pale vin gris that mirrors the grape’s dusky pink-gray skin at maturity. Vigneron Joseph de Maistre achieves this by allowing the fruit to rest for several hours in the press during an extended, gentle cycle, teasing out just a whisper of color from brief skin contact. The result is an exquisitely delicate expression of Pinot Gris—silken in texture, gleaming with freshness, and sharpened by a saline edge that makes each sip irresistibly mouthwatering.

Viticulture / Vinification
• Made by direct press
• Cold maceration before the alcoholic fermentation last 3-4 days
• Fermentation lasts 15 days with only indigenous yeasts
• Does not undergo malolactic fermentation

Notes on the Producer

The appellation of Reuilly, in the eastern Loire, has moved far beyond its former status as the “poor man’s Sancerre.” This land was once a source of great pride, having been part of a gift of the 7th century king, Dagobert, to the Royal Abbey of Saint Denis. Phylloxera had ravaged the majority of the vineyards here in the late 19th century, but Camille Rousseau (former proprieter, Denis Jamain's maternal grandfather) had faith in the future of Reuilly. In 1935, he planted his first vines here, in addition to farming a large oak forest on the outskirts of town. Denis shared his grandfather’s passion for the vineyards and the forest, as well as his hometown pride. Though he studied in the United States and speaks excellent English, this charismatic and friendly gentleman wanted nothing more than to return home to take over the family domaine. In 1990, Denis began adding to the family holdings, eventually farming a total of seventeen hectares in the heart of the appellation, with eleven planted to Sauvignon Blanc, four planted to Pinot Noir, and two planted to Pinot Gris.

In 2023, Denis retired, but not before working closely with his mentee and successor, Joseph de Maistre. Joseph's grandfather owned a cognac business which is what inspired him at a young age to pursue a career in viticulture and enology. He's managed his first wine project in Menetou-Salon, Prieuré de Saint-Céols, since 2017.

The soils at Domaine de Reuilly are rich, resting on the prized Kimmeridgian limestone, a geological chain that connects the Loire Valley with Chablis in Burgundy. This limestone is valued for its high content of marine and shell fossils dating back 150 million years ago to the Jurassic period. These minerals are without equal for producing some of the most beautiful whites in France. Denis practiced sustainable agriculture for many years, and the domaine has been certified organic and biodynamic since 2011. For its sole cuvée of Reuilly rouge raised in wood, the domaine selects special oaks from Denis’ grandfather’s forest to make their barrels. This is the concept of “local” in its purest form.
-Kermit Lynch - Importer