Geoffrey Estienne: from Blueberries to Hybrid grapes

 

Now that L'Etiquette is no longer, perhaps the void may be filled at least to some extent by Divvino, 19 Rue Elzivir, Paris 75003.

Last time there we discovered a real rarity, Joubertin and this time a wine called Vin Nu '1', The producer is Geoffrey Estienne at Le Trimoulet, 23600 Boussac, half way between Tours and Clermont Ferrand in the Limousin. 

Geoffrey was a top producer of Blueberries for many years before deciding to plant a vineyard. Limousin is not a big vinegrowing area so there was presumably no pressure to plant any particular variety. 

Nonetheless Geoffrey took a decision to plant unexpected hybrids. That is to say not only recent ones developed by INRA but really old and to some degree unfashionable ones such as 

Clinton

Baco Noir

Noah

Castel 1963 7

Rayon d'Or

Leon Millot

He found some of these in old vineyards in the area and in a vine nursery and has been using his knowledge from growing blueberries to prune and manage these vines differently.

Divvino had a bottle of Vin Nu '1' which is Baco Noir plus a bit of Gamay from Coigny in the Rhone, 3 hours away, not exactly next door.

We actually like Baco Noir having enjoyed bottles from Henry of Pelham (Ontario) and even planted a couple of vines ourselves. We wanted to buy 6 different bottles of Geoffrey's wines but he said the others were not ready yet.

We will be patient.