Field Blend, Loire Valley, France

With many decades of vineyard roaming, Patrick Desplats is a lived and learned master – Yoda-like in his revered approach to winemaking & living in general. Co-founder of Domaine Des Griottes, created with friend Sébastien Dervieux (aka Babass) which prospered steadily as a zero-zero facility from 2000-2010, before the duo split over the ultimate question, “to plow or not to plow”.  An unwavering advocate for the Earth and exploration of our innate connection to it, Patrick sincerely does practice what he preaches. ‘Epona’ is a single vineyard (0.5ha!) field blend of over 20 varieties – half of the vines were planted in 2004, while the other half are 100+ year old self rooted vines (a serious rarity!) that Patrick inherited. This particular wine may be the pin-pointed epitome of his philosophy, everything together all at once, leaning on one another & coming together as a perfect, singular entity – like seeing the entire world in a grain of sand. We think this wine could be the sole reason the term ‘field blend’ exists. The plot has NEVER seen any chemical intervention and consists mainly of pineau d’aunis and chenin, with gamay, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cab franc, cab sauv, grolleau, grolleau gris, pinot gris & many more. A complete photo in both scent and taste, of the place and time from which it came. Drink while observing a heard of wild horses crossing an open grassland.