Bistro Rosé - A Best-Kept Secret Is Shared from the Cult White Wine Producer. (Shhhhh....)

DEBUT: Bistro Rosé - A Best-Kept Secret Is Shared from the Cult-Like White Wine Producer. Unfortunately, There Is “Very Little of It To Go Around...” Our Favorite Rosé of the Year?

“One of the most exciting up-and-coming producers in the Loire, Thibaud Boudignon already has a fervent following in America. A Bordeaux native, Boudignon began making his own wine in 2009 and now has seven hectares, farmed biodynamically, in Anjou and Savennières….” - Vinous

For IWM, it is not about which Rosé wines we carry; it’s about which Rosé we do not. Too many retailers rush to fill the shelves with pink plunk, but we taste before we purchase because the Rosé category is simply abused too often. The Team tasted the Thibaud Boudignon ROSÉ DE LOIRE once and it is a tremendous follow-up to last year’s interpretation that sold out quickly. With June rapidly arriving, we can now all enjoy the sunny days and warm weather going forward, and this year at IWM that must include this stunning BISTRO ROSÉ. This is a Rosé that can stand up to a three inch T-Bone steak and fun conversation with friends for Spring and Summer entertainment under $25!

If you have followed IWM over the past two decades then you know that the Loire Valley is nothing new – we were inspired by the biodynamics wines of Nicholas Joly and his daughter, we fought for our minuscule cases of the highly allocated Sancerres of Vatan and Cotat and we were simply smitten by the cult wines of Didier Dagueneau and his son Louis-Benjamin. Well, today that Loire Valley legacy continues with the cult-like wines of Thibaud Boudignon. The Bordeaux native who trained at Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac, as well as Philipe Charlopin in Gevrey Chambertin, is one of the most exciting up-and-coming producers in the Loire Valley. He is delivering purity of place and varietal through his strict practices of organics and in the prized vineyards of Savennières. Wine critic Michael Bettane may have said it best in a recent tasting, “the wines of Boudignon were the best dry chenins…we are at the level of 1er Cru and Grand Cru Burgundy.” 

Well, we agree with that, but this time we can celebrating with another side, and shade, and that is the awesome crowd-pleasing Rosé. And this time is not Chenin Blanc as the varietal, it is 30+ year-old vine Cabernet Franc with 10% Grolleau from shallow soils of grey schist and rhyolite (volcanic soil) and clay in the small and ancient village of Lys Haut Layon. This is direct press Rosé is produced from biodynamic practices and is the most exciting bottle of pink we have had this year!! We are pleased to share this rare gem of Thibaud Boudignon, alongside our Rosé selections. These are some of the value-oriented wines we want on the warmer days of Spring and beyond. ACT fast before the New York restaurants scoff the wines up.

FEATURED WINE: The Crowd-Pleasing Bistro Rosé of Thibaud Boudignon

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND REVIEWS:

2023 Thibaud Boudignon Rose de Loire Valley

Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: “Our exciting, old-school Rose from the Loire returns with the new release from the 2023 vintage – and it is flipping DELIZIOSO. Dare we say that this is a Rose that can stand up to Bistecca alla Fiorentina and fun conversation with friends for Spring and Summer entertainment. We tried both and can emphatically say this is the perfect BISTRO ROSE. The explosive bouquet captivated the senses. On the palate this wine is bursting with a mouthful of expansive fruit, and you can expect loads of ripe strawberry, no, scratch that, fraise de bois is more fitting, as there is simply more concentration of flavor, and you can expect nuances of cherry, wild berries, blood orange, with a touch of herbs and salinity that quietly stains the mid-palate. There is concentration and depth, even slightly chewy, yet it is refreshing with great density in this more balanced vintage. I would like to thank our good friend Theresa for introducing us to this “BISTRO ROSE” to us during the pandemic, as it is a new staple for us. Unfortunately, we used to receive a sizeable allocation, but now the restaurants are bustling and taking the little that arrives into the US. We say Carpe Diem.”

This is an email ONLY offer! Should you have any questions on these exciting wines, or would like to take advantage of this offer (that is only available until 11:59pm, Wednesday, April 10th), we are asking that orders be emailed back to chris.deas@italianwinemerchants.com, or connect with your Portfolio Manager AND mention receipt of this offer if calling the store. All orders are subject to confirmation. IWM is not responsible for typographical errors.

All my best,

Chris