Christine and Joël Ménard — now joined by their son Jérémy — are the quiet legends of Rablay-sur-Layon, farming 13 biodynamic hectares in a corner of the Loire famous for sweet wine and making some of the most joyful dry wines in France instead.
Les Copains d'Abord ("friends first," after the Brassens song) is their house red: a chillable glouglou of Grolleau, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon and a splash of Chenin, all hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts, and bottled with nothing added and nothing taken away.
It lands around 11% alcohol with a rush of raspberry and sour cherry. This is the bottle you open when friends show up unannounced.
Grolleau, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc / Certified Biodynamic
France
Loire
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