Philippe Gilbert Menetou-Salon Rouge 2022

Vinification

30-year-old Pinot Noir on marl over Kimmeridgian limestone. Hand-harvested grapes, partially destemmed, spontaneously fermented and macerated for three weeks in frustoconical wooden vats. Elevage for one year in these wooden vats, then one more winter in cement tanks. Bottled unfiltered.

Philippe Gilbert was an internationally acclaimed playwright before moving back to Menetou-Salon to take over the reigns of his family domain. Not an obvious move perhaps, until you realize that the Gilbert family’s history has been entwined with these same vineyards since 1768 and that his grandfather was one of the founders of the AOC Menetou-Salon.

By now Philippe has become somewhat of a leading light himself, as one of the primary authorities on biodynamic farming in the region. Together with oenologist Jean-Philippe Louis, he converted his 27-hectare holdings to first organics and later biodynamics pretty much immediately after taking over the domain from his father in 1998.

Cellar practices are artisanal yet decisive, yielding classically styled but uncontrived wines with amazing mineral depth.