Closerie Saint Roc, “Les Noyers”, Vin de France Rouge

“Les Noyers” hails from a 2.9-hectare parcel with soils of equal parts sand, silt, and clay, planted 80% to Cabernet Franc and 20% to Merlot. Compared to the “Les Pins” above, this is even finer and more lithe—a reflection of the vineyard’s preponderance of sand—but equally harmonious on the palate, and the blend’s high proportion of Cabernet Franc contributes a gorgeous earthy spice element. Fermented spontaneously in cement during a two-week maceration, it spends 18 months aging in old barrels with the lees regularly “dynamized” into the wine according to the lunar calendar, and it is bottled without any additions whatsoever. Each bottle is topped with high-quality red wax and enclosed in translucent tissue paper.