2008 Domaine Christian Ducroux Regnie 12.0%
Chambers Street imported a batch without sulfur and a batch with sulfur. The second is sealed in the basement so that the first is sold first. The label doesn't say no sulfur, but shows the word Demeter right below the Domaine's name. Not so sure I like this kind of flaunting; under noblesse oblige, good behavior should be its own reward rather than used for marketing, but it's not a perfect world, most of the time, and the guy must have a family to feed. The label also thanks the donkeys (or mules?) Ewan and Kaina for their efforts on behalf of microbial activity, natural weed control and grape transportation. Label also says organic farming, biodynamic spraying, no filtering, and indigenous yeasts, though we're not told whether spontaneous or cultured. We're also not told how long the grapes were fermented and macerated, what percentage was whole cluster, whether fermentation was carbonic or regular, etc. Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Onto ze wine. Delicious aromas of sour cherry and church spices, with hints of funk and forest floor. Good acid/sweet balance, good mouth weight, surprisingly present tannins, suggesting a fair percentage of whole clusters. Taste has a strong floral component, but is more serious than pleasurable due to some stemminess, suggesting, again, a fair percentage of whole clusters. All-in-all, I enjoyed the nose more than the mouth, but 'tis a creditable effort, and inexpensive to boot at sixteen bucks.