Great Red Organs 2018

Grandes Orgues Rouge 2018,

Frédéric Gounan

Blessed with superb maturity and great minerality, Les Grandes Orgues by Frédéric Gounan is a single-varietal Pinot Noir from Auvergne grown on basalt soils. Its generous, concentrated body, great liveliness, and freshness make it a sumptuous, lively, energetic wine capable of being enjoyed on its own. Beautiful notes of red fruits mineralized by basalt and lava, a true wine born of the earth. The distinction between Grandes Orgues and Petites Orgues is in no way linked to the plot but to the vintage and the blend. It is made during tasting, at the very end of aging. It is the first wine to be racked, the quintessence of the vintage. What seems the greatest, the most obvious, is the subject of the first blend. Then, the rest is blended to create the Les Petites Orgues cuvée. These Grandes Orgues are a pleasure to enjoy with local cuisine.

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Coming from a family of farmers established in the commune of Saint-Sandoux (Puy-de-Dôme) for at least two centuries, Frédéric Gounan was in his first life a mechanic and prototype creator for the French motorcycle brand Voxan, whose headquarters were in Issoire. He turned away from the industrial world to devote himself to wine with his partner Caroline. He intends to take advantage of the magnificent terroirs of his native village, far from "pissing the vines", as was done in the past: he notes that everything that comes from this land has exceptional taste qualities. He takes over plots of Gamay d'Auvergne, plants other grape varieties, and ends up producing vintages that are among the tastiest and most sought-after in Auvergne. On this land of the Chaîne des Puys, Pinot Noirs grow on black basalt soils, while Sauvignons and Pinot Gris grow on white clay-limestone soils with basalt pebbles. A follower of organic and biodynamic farming, Frédéric also applies methods he deems appropriate to the climate and terroir: to facilitate photosynthesis in this harsh and contrasting climate, he practices lyre trellising, which allows the vines' foliage to be aerated and exposed to the sun, guaranteeing ripe fruit at harvest. Always a mechanic at heart, he makes his tools and tinkers with his tractors according to his needs. His wines are rare and distinguished, highly sought after by wine lovers: small estate (less than two hectares), small production (by volume, not by spirit).