2020 Racines Rouge

Etienne Courtois is the son of Claude Courtois, one of the great pioneers of both organic farming and non-intervention winemaking in the Loire. Over time, more and more of the winemaking has passed from father to son, and today Etienne is the head of the domaine, guided by his father’s experience and insight.

The Courtois family farm, Les Cailloux du Paradis, lies in the heart of Sologne and is a textbook example of biodiversity combined with self-sufficiency. Trees, fruit orchards, woodland and vineyards spread across the property, where Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Côt (Malbec), Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pineau d’Aunis and some 30 other varieties grow. Chemicals are strictly banned and instead traditional methods and manual work prevail.

In the cellar, the work is hands-off and guided by great patience. Some wines age for anywhere from four to ten years in old barrels, and Etienne has also introduced amphorae. The result is serious and expressive wines bursting with energy and shaped by decades of experience working with healthy, living soils and honest winemaking. Etienne also experiments with shorter ageing, producing wines with higher acidity and a fresher, more immediate style.

The family includes yet another winemaker: Julien Courtois, who produces wines under the domaine name Le Clos de la Bruyère in the same area.