Fief Noir Revolution Pineau d'Aunis Val de Loire 2022

Dominique Sirot and Alexis Soulas were friends first before launching their winery, Fief Noir. Their friendship blossomed while working as colleagues at a large winery in Corsica in the early 2000s. Despite having little oversight and stable resources to make wine together in a beautiful setting, they wanted more. Both felt a lack of soul and passion in producing at a commercial winery where the winemaking was focused primarily on manipulating fruit rather than creating a symbiosis of viticulture and viniculture. Dominique and Alexis set out on a mission in 2014, traveling north in search of an estate to fulfill their desire to craft honest wines derived from soulful land.

Fief Noir was born in Anjou, a sub-region of the Loire Valley, where the friends purchased 75 acres of land that they’ve farmed organically from the start. Fief, meaning land, and Noir, meaning black, as a name is an ode to the dark, schist-rich soils for which Anjou is famous. Schist is a metamorphic rock comprising many flaky layers that benefit vines in two ways. The soil retains heat quite well and radiates sunshine, behooving grapes growing in cooler climates like the Loire and allowing for even ripening. Additionally, vines can easily penetrate cracks through the delicate rock layers, allowing root systems to dive deep into the earth and absorb minerals while limiting yield and concentrating flavors.

Most wine drinkers know Loire Valley for its Chenin Blanc, yet there are many indigenous red varietals that the Fief Noir team has embraced. The 2022 Revolution is 100% Pineau d’Aunis from 60-year-old vines across Dominique and Alexis’ estate. Pineau d’Aunis is rarely crafted as a single-varietal wine and is more commonly blended with other reds or made into rosé. This winemaking choice is due to the finicky nature of the grape, which is highly susceptible to disease and can be inconsistent with yields. The Fief Noir team avoids these downfalls thanks to the thoughtful care of their vines and terroir with biodynamic practices focusing on soil health.

Dominique and Alexis hand-harvested the fruit before macerating the berries as whole clusters for two weeks. Native fermentation kicked off in concrete tanks before a 6-month élevage in terracotta amphora and final bottling as unfined, unfiltered wine. Expressive aromas of white pepper and violets flourish on the nose with wild strawberry and raspberry tones. The juicy palate has a lovely burst of acidity and chewy tannins, making the 2022 Revolution a fantastic aperitif red to pair with a charcuterie board on the patio this Summer!