Region: Coteaux du Giennois, Loire Valley, France
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Gamay
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Red currant, cherry, and forest floor, with a long, slow-built structure from extended barrel aging and a fresh, savory finish
Pairing: Roast chicken, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, or lightly chilled with grilled fish
The Producer
Mathieu Coste studied agronomy and oenology and worked across several of Burgundy and the Loire's teaching estates before buying the former Alain Paulat property in the Coteaux du Giennois in 2008. He continued the organic farming already underway there since the 1980s across the estate's 5.5 hectares, split mostly between Gamay and Pinot Noir with a little Sauvignon.
The Wine
"Le Troisième Oeil du Chat," part of Coste's "Têtes de Chats" (cats' heads) range, blends Pinot Noir and Gamay from the 2019 vintage. The wine ferments in cement tanks before moving into neutral puncheons, where it rests for three to four years before bottling with no added sulfur. That extended, unhurried elevage gives the wine a settled, layered character: red currant and cherry fruit folded into notes of forest floor and spice.
Region: Coteaux du Giennois, Loire Valley, France
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Gamay
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Red currant, cherry, and forest floor, with a long, slow-built structure from extended barrel aging and a fresh, savory finish
Pairing: Roast chicken, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, or lightly chilled with grilled fish
The Producer
Mathieu Coste studied agronomy and oenology and worked across several of Burgundy and the Loire's teaching estates before buying the former Alain Paulat property in the Coteaux du Giennois in 2008. He continued the organic farming already underway there since the 1980s across the estate's 5.5 hectares, split mostly between Gamay and Pinot Noir with a little Sauvignon.
The Wine
"Le Troisième Oeil du Chat," part of Coste's "Têtes de Chats" (cats' heads) range, blends Pinot Noir and Gamay from the 2019 vintage. The wine ferments in cement tanks before moving into neutral puncheons, where it rests for three to four years before bottling with no added sulfur. That extended, unhurried elevage gives the wine a settled, layered character: red currant and cherry fruit folded into notes of forest floor and spice.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.