Charente-Maritime Wine
Yapp Brothers entire buying remit has its foundations in scouring backwaters for hidden gems. The more aspirational appellations of the Rhône and Loire might well be household names today, but when Robin Yapp began exploring off-grid enclaves of viticulture in the late 1960s with well-thumbed Michélin maps and fractured French, they would have been unknown to most Brits. Over time, wines become familiar and names like Sancerre - that were once alien - begin to seem like old friends. They also become more costly. It was just this phenomenon that prompted us to broaden our horizons back in 2010 and see if we could seek out a first-rate supplier of Sauvignon Blanc that didn't already have a queue of international importers beating a path to their door.
We had to cast our nets wide - and we did taste a lot of wines that just didn't cut the mustard - but eventually we found exactly what we looking for at the Gardrat brothers eponymous Domaine just outside the town of Cozes in the heart of the Charente-Maritime. Blessed with free-draining chalky soils, optimum light levels and a long growing season, they correctly perceived that they were custodians of terrific terroir for cultivating Sauvignon Blanc to produce still wines to complement their traditional business producing Cognac and Pineau des Charentes. Their IGP Charentais Sauvignon Blanc is certified organic and has classic nettle and gooseberry aromas, a racy, citrus-edged palate and long, clean finish. It makes an uplifting summer aperitif or partner to salads or seafood.
