2020 Quartz

Claude Courtois is considered one of the great pioneers of natural wine in Loire, but in recent years he has begun to hand over more and more control to his son, Etienne Courtois, who already shows great potential. Today, Claude only makes the cuvée Racines, while Etienne does the rest. The family includes another wine-producing member, as Julien Courtois also makes wines under the domaine name Le Clos de la Bruyère in same area.

The family farm Les Cailloux du Paradis, which you find in the middle of Sologne, is a prime example of how biodynamics go hand in hand with biodiversity and being self-sufficient. Trees, fruit trees and forest are spread across the area while Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Côt (Malbec), Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pineau d’Aunis and up to 40 other non-grafted varieties grow there as well. Claude Courtois, however, do not want to be categorized as a biodynamicist to avoid being pigeonholed, but chemicals are banned on the domaine where traditional methods prevail including harvesting by hand and only using natural yeast.

Etienne Courtois continues the tradition of letting the wine age for a long time, but also experiments with shorter periods of ageing, which give the wines more freshness and higher acidity. In general, the wines are very straightforward and easy to drink, but at the same time flavourful and complex.