Grape Varietal: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Country: France Region: Saumur, Loire Valley The Wine: Château de Fosse-Sèche is a biodynamic estate in Saumur revived by twin brothers Guillaume and Adrien Pire in 1998. Where nearly all of Saumur sits on tuffeau limestone, Fosse-Sèche occupies a Jurassic plateau of siliceous flint and iron oxide — 200-million-year-old soils that produce wines with a tension and mineral identity entirely unlike their neighbors. Éolithe is 99% Cabernet Franc, harvested by hand, fermented briefly, and aged 12 months on lees in concrete — no wood, no fining, no filtration. The 2022 Éolithe is a precise, concentrated expression of Saumur Cabernet Franc from a singularly stony terroir. It opens with aromas of violet, dark cherry, and crushed red fruit, lifted by a thread of graphite and iron. On the palate, it is taut and focused, with fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and a long mineral finish. Pairing: Roast duck with olives and thyme, a lamb shoulder slow-cooked with garlic and white beans, a plate of charcuterie and aged chèvre with a good baguette, or a cool evening meal that starts with something simple and doesn't need to go anywhere complicated.
