60km north of Nantes in the village of La Chappelle-Glain, Xaviere Hardy makes nuanced, delicate wines from an isolated 1.5 hectares on blue schist, (hence Les Terres Bleues).
After close analysis of the terroir, and lobbying the local council to allow her to do so: Xaviere planted her vines in 2013. Being the only vineyard for miles around and with no precedent to follow, she focused her efforts on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Grolleau, trained in the seldom-seen (in the Loire) Albarello style to help with sun exposure.
Working in such a unique way isn't the easiest path, but the wines are clearly worth it.
Xaviere describes her 2023 vintage as a "true miracle" - especially in contrast to some of her neighbours who lost huge amounts in battles with mildew given such a wet growing season and a humid summer. Xaviere was blessed with quality and quantity - a reward that brought its own challenge: accommodating all that fruit in her tiny cellar.
She's thrilled to have had this challenge to handle, particularly as 2024 brought catastrophic losses after incessant rain and cold, losing up to 60% of her yield. This is the harsh reality of climate change and the dramatic swings it is presenting growers with, particularly in regions like the Loire.
But with plenty of juice in 2023 Xaviere was able to expand her range from her usual four cuvées to six. A joyful collection of wines with a sense of energy and generosity.
The new wines are all available now and detailed below:
WHITE
NEW 2023 - AWA - Pinot Gris
Pressed directly, with 60% of the blend aged in 5-10-year-old barrels, and the remainder in stainless steel tank for 10 months before assemblage and bottling with no additions. Incredibly long and mineral, elegant.
SKINS
NEW 2023 - Michel'Ange - Pinot Gris
From the same pick as AWA. A short 24-hour maceration of fruit destemmed by hand on a wicker de-stemmer. Aged in a combination of both barrel and tank before blending after 10 months. Usually a white but the warm, ripe vintage has yielded more colour from such a short maceration, a wine with body and complexity.
NEW 2023 - Jeannette - Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
A direct pressing of Pinot Gris (two-thirds) & Pinot Noir picked and vinified together. Aged in tank and barrel for 10 months before bottling with no additions. Generous, complex, serious and long.
ROSE
NEW 2023 - Baraka - Grolleau
Grolleau pressed directly and fermented in tank to preserve the fruit before gently racking to barrel to fill out its edges and allow its complexity to develop. Taut, fleshy fruit, pithy citrus and salinity.
RED
NEW 2023 - Ma Garance Voyageuse - Grolleau
Continuing Xaviere's masterful blend of three vinifications she perfected for this wine in 2020 – one-third as a carbonic maceration aged in stainless steel, one-third de-stemmed and aged in old barrels, the final third comprises a tank layered with 30% whole bunch fruit to 70% destemmed – she believes it lends the wine balance and synergy. Deep with fruit, soft and easy with just the finest frame of tannin.
NEW 2023 - XH2 - Pinot Noir
An infusion maceration in tank: 30% whole bunch, 70% de-stemmed for eight days, with two thirds aged in old barrels and the remainder in stainless steel. The two vinifications are assembled after 10 months before bottlling with no additions. A generous and round Pinot with supple tannins and elegant length and minerality.
