Éric Texier Chat Fou 2022

Profile & Story

Éric Texier, a Bordeaux native who moved to the Rhône Valley in 1979, is regarded as one of Northern Rhône's most important winemakers, credited with reviving the nearly extinct Brézème and Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban appellations through organic and biodynamic farming. “Chat Fou” (“crazy cat,” named for the winemaker's cat) is a Vin de France blend of roughly 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 20% Clairette from organically farmed, south-facing granite and gneiss vineyards in Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, Ardèche; partially destemmed and co-fermented with indigenous yeast in open concrete, aged 12–18 months in concrete on fine lees, then bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur.