MICHEL REDDE
Pouilly-Fumé, France
Michel Redde propelled this benchmark estate on the right bank of the Loire to notoriety in the mid-20th century, but he was, in fact, the 12th generation of vignerons in his family. Genealogic tracing establishes the Redde family in Pouilly-sur-Loire as far back as 1630. The 42-hectare estate in Pouilly-Fumé bears his name as it was his tireless work to expand, develop, and create the Domaine's image that led to its sterling repute. In more recent years, it has been run by his son, Thierry, now in turn, showing the ropes to his own boys: Sébastien and Romain. The wines remain standout examples of Pouilly-Fumé's unique expression - distinct within the appellation from so many homogenous imitations of the ever-popular Sancerre across the river.
Their individuality and typicité can be attributed to the varied terroir throughout the vineyards: Kimmeridgian marls with fossilized oysters in Pouilly-sur-Loire, Albian Flint in Saint-Andelain, Portlandian limestone in Tracy-sur-Loire, and Oxfordian limestone in Saint-Martin-sur-Nohain. The entry tier of wines utilize the estate's youngest vines, and those older are reserved for the higher end and site-specific bottlings.
All the wines spend time on the fine lees, with the entry levels seeing only stainless steel and the higher tier bottlings spending varying months in tuns, half tuns, demi-muids and oak barrel. The entire line shows precise varietal accuracy as well as the quintessential white smoke and flinty backbone of Pouilly: a master class in mineral-driven Sauvignon.
Wines