December 2021 Wine of the Month Club

This month brought an exciting new discovery for our team: the terroir-driven wines of Leduc-Frouin. Leduc-Frouin is a family winery situated in Sousigné, about 20 miles south of Angers in the heart of the Anjou region of the Loire Valley. The domaine is run by Antoine Leduc, the 4th generation of winemakers in his family to craft fine wines in the region. Antoine continues the legacy begun by his ancestors before him, championing the quality and distinction of the ‘La Seigneurie’ vineyard as well as Anjou as a whole. Antoine Leduc makes wine in a traditional way that would be familiar to his grandparents, but also discerningly invites modern innovation to the cellar when he believes it improves upon quality. In the vineyard, Antoine has transitioned his vineyards to “Terra Vitis” sustainable farming practices. Due to the care taken in the vineyard as well as the diversity of soils present, Antoine is able to produce stunning single-vineyard bottlings. The ‘La Seigneurie’ vineyard wines selected for December’s Wine of the Month club showcase the complexity of the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes, and are an excellent introduction to Leduc-Frouin and the Anjou region of the Loire Valley.

The Loire Valley remains largely undervalued when compared with its more famous neighbors in Bordeaux and Burgundy. On one hand, this is a real shame. On the other hand, we should pray that the trend continues, as the Loire Valley represents some of the best value for money in all of France. The Loire Valley boasts an enormous range of grape varieties and styles: you can find bone dry whites, dry and sweet sparkling and rosé wines, light as well as fuller bodied reds, and exquisite dessert wines. Within the Anjou region itself exists a wide variety of grapes and styles, with a particular emphasis on the idiosyncratic Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes. The Anjou region was historically developed in large part by the monasteries in the area, each of which had their own plot of vines. Its reputation soared when French-born Henry Plantagenet became King Henry II of England in 1154, and requested that Anjou wines be served in the royal court. The wines of Anjou were served in the royal court long after his death–for nearly 1,000 years—boosting the reputation of the region. This, in turn, motivated vignerons in Anjou to expand their vineyards further on the banks of the Loire towards its tributaries. In recent years, winemakers in Anjou have furthered their expertise of the grapes in the region, crafting increasingly terroir-driven and age-worthy wines.

We hope that you enjoy our new discovery as much as we did this month. Both wines are incredibly versatile food wines that would go well with a range of dishes on your holiday menus. We hope the wines make your season bright as you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones.

Santé et Joyeuses Fêtes!
The PlumpJack Wine Buying Team