Tastes like Summer: Great Juice from Mr. Batard: Gamay Hautes Noelles

His Muscadet might be more popular but it is no reason to neglect Serge Batard Domaine Les Hautes Noelles Gamay.

I just bought a bottle of the 2007 Vintage (100% Gamay grapes) and it was perfect for hot muggy weather.
Not too high in alcohol (12%), great fruit, a lighter red for hot summer days.

Serge Batard calls it a 'vin de la soif' (a wine for thirsty people) displaying red fruits and black cherries.

Smith and Vine (Brooklyn, New York) suggest you "take a chance and chill this down like you were in the French countryside".

On his (French Only) website, Mr Batard writes that "each vintage is a challenge, it takes a lifetime to master wine...".

He does not use chemical fertilizers or weed killers.

The fact sheet tells us: "This Gamay is grown in the Coteaux d’Herbauges vineyard lying on the northern shores of the Lac de Grand-Lieu. These vineyards benefit from their southwesterly exposure and their proximity to the lake, factors that allow for great ripeness in the vineyards".

You can pay a visit to the property (the cellar) located in the small town of Saint-Léger-les-Vignes (near Nantes) on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check the site for hours and contact info.

Enough said, find this Gamay and drink it.

A steal at around $12, good for the Consumed to Thrifty.

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