Tourlaudiere ‘Nin’ja' Red

LOCATION: FRANCE, LOIRE, MUSCADET

WINEMAKER: ROMAIN PETITEAU

GRAPES: (ESTATE) PINOT NOIR, SYRAH

SOIL: GABBRO, SCHIST, AMPHIBOLITE

THE ‘NINJA’ CUVÉE IS NAMED FOR JEANINE, ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF TOURLAUDIÈRE, AND IS USUALLY 100% PINOT NOIR; DUE TO VERY LOW YIELDS, THIS VINTAGE WAS SUPPLEMENTED WITH 15% SYRAH. BRIGHT AND PEPPERY AND FULL OF CHARM—SERVE WITH A LIGHT CHILL AND THE CLASSIC MEATS, CHEESES, AND CRUSTY BREAD. OR WITH RATATOUILLE…OR WITH YOUR FAVORITE RECORD ON A RAINY AFTERNOON.

FROM THE PRODUCER: LA TOURLAUDIÈRE IS LOCATED HALFWAY BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF VALLET AND LA CHAPELLE HEULIN, THE VINEYARD TOTALING ABOUT 21 HA, AND IS CROSSED BY THE POYET, A TRIBUTARY STREAM OF THE GOULAINE. ROLAND VINIFIED HIS FIRST HARVEST IN 1976. JEANINE MADE HER DEBUT AS A WINEMAKER WITH THE 1982 VINTAGE. IN 1984, THEY JOINED TOGETHER UNDER THE NAME OF PETITEAU-GAUBERT, COMBINING TERROIRS AND VINES FROM THEIR FAMILY HERITAGE, DATING FROM THE 17TH CENTURY. ROMAIN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE ESTATE SINCE 2006. IN 2018, THEY BEGAN CONVERTING THE ESTATE TO ORGANIC VITICULTURE, AND FROM 2021 ON, ALL PRODUCTION IS CERTIFIED ORGANIC.