Thierry Germain ‘L’Insolite’

Thierry Germain ‘L’Insolite’ – a preternaturally charismatic personification of this vigneron’s love for his craft. An acclamation to the Chenin Blanc grape, this soaring symphony of ripe orchard bliss and stunningly balanced acidity renders one foreign in their own corporeality. Imagine a spoon sinking endlessly into a honeyed yogurt and yet returning speckled with dried pineapple and poached pear. This elixir blurs the lines between one reality and the next, offering a soulful interpretation of Germain himself.  Upon extracting the cork, one is able to luxuriate in rich wafting waves of tropical fruit and acacia honey. Once sipped, it seems to coat the entirety of one’s mouth, tickling the palette with extraordinary vitality. Undoubtedly, Mr. Germain has graced us with something that is very much alive and kicking.

This cuveé originates from a plot of vines upwards of 85 years-old, grown on clayey limestone with sandstone and flint subsoil. The soil is organically treated with special tisanes. There occurs several picking sessions according to ripeness, the conclusive selection focusing on nobly rotten grapes. He conducts fermentation in 12h/l concrete foudre for four months to augment that ethereal minerality and ages on fine lees for 12 months thereafter. The estate itself has been in operation since 1850 and Germain is one in a long line of Bordeaux winemakers. Hence, one could venture that both possess deep-set, generational roots in the world of wine. However, being a devoted advocate of biodiversity, Germain conducts a manual harvest, vinifies in small batches and neither fines nor filters.

Thierry Germain ‘L’Insolite’ – a divine by-product of birthright and philosophical staunchness. This 50-acre domaine sits in a viticultural Eden and Germain’s awareness of such is a contributing factor to the ceaseless evolution his wines display. Possessing finer bone structure than James Dean, they continue to challenge and provoke.