Wine for sale: Les Poete

The son of a winemaker, Guillaume Sobre - a former sommelier - has replanted the vines at this estate in the Loire Valley's Quincy and Reuilly appellations. The result of his hard work is Sauvignon Blancs with rare purity.

Domaine des Poëte is one of those gems of the Loire that deserve all your attention. Located in the rather modest appellations of Quincy and Reuilly, Guillaume Sobre produces perfectly ripe, well-balanced Sauvignon. He cultivates his 6 hectares of vines in an environmentally friendly way; for him, the only logical way, with little intervention but a focus on the well-being on consumers. Son of winemaker and trained chef, he turned to sommellerie, studying enology in Beaune. He then returned to the Loire, inheriting uncultivated land and bit by bit planting vines. His motto of “less is more” is reflected both in the vineyard and the cellar. He doesn't seek high yields, rather strives to get the best of the grapes' aromatic potential and to allow the terroir to come through. Vinifications are also low intervention, conducted without the use of sulphur, nor any other additives. Maturation periods last between 12 and 18 months, in barrels and vats. The wines are bottled 6 months before being put on sale. And for those of you who know French grammar rules and are wondering why there isn't a 's' at the end of the estate's name, that is because it is the surname of the winemaker's grandmother, Esther Poëte.