Emmanuel Haget spent two-decades as a geophysicist and began producing wine as a way to live and connect with the land. Fortuitously, he met the retiring, first wave biodynamic vigneron Philippe Gourdon, who sold his ten acres of vines to Haget in 2016. The vineyard is located in Le Puy-Notre-Dame, not far south of Saumur in the middle of the Loire Valley. Loustic is a blend of 75% Cab Franc grown from 60-year-old vines in clay/flint soils and 25% Pineau d’Aunis from 15-year-old vines in silty clay on green-ish chalk. Cab Franc is fermented hole cluster while the Pineau d’Aunis macerates for six days prior to fermentation with indigenous yeast for 6 months in tank with no fining or filtration and minimal SO2. The result is light, grippy red with aromas and flavors of tart cherry followed by green and black pepper notes on the dry, lo tannin, finish. Takes a chill beautifully and pairs perfectly with dark meat turkey, lentil stews or steak tartare.