Gamay & Pinot Noir, Loire Valley, France

A wildly wonderful and spiced red blend for Loire Valley admirers. Domaine Tessier was established in 1961 (and organic since 1998!) when Roger Tessier began planting vines next to his asparagus fields. Today, Marie and Simon Tessier look after the domaine, taking over in 2020 after Simon apprenticed for legendary neighbour François Chidaine and completed a program at the Amboise viticulture school. The soils here are predominantly limestone with marine deposits and silica-clay that help produce the stunningly mineral wines we expect and adore. ‘Point du Jour’ is a blend of light, cherried gamay (20%) and savoury, tart pinot noir (80%) from the oldest red vines on the estate planted on sand, clay and limestone. Hand-harvested, the grapes are left 80% whole-cluster (meaning 20% were destemmed), and macerated for two weeks before a short aging period in large, old wood barrels. Wild cherry tree, black pepper, strawberry patching in bloom, grated cinnamon, matcha greenness, underripe plum, soil & a cooling, ever-present minerality. Pour alongside agedashi eggplant garnished with grated ginger, daikon and bonito flakes.