# Laurent Saillard La Pause 2025 (2025)

- **Producer:** Laurent Saillard
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €23
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 13–15 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, strawberry, blackberry, violet, black pepper

## About this wine

Laurent Saillard spent years in New York City as a chef and co-owner of the acclaimed restaurant Ici in Brooklyn before returning to France to craft natural wines. In 2015, he settled in the Loire Valley and acquired part of the historic Clos Roche Blanche vineyard in Pouille. La Pause translates to The Break, conceived as an unpretentious, thirst-quenching Gamay designed to offer a refreshing pause during a long day of vineyard work.

## Interesting facts

- Laurent Saillard was formerly a chef and co-owner of the acclaimed restaurant Ici in Brooklyn, NY.
- The vines for La Pause were planted back in 1978 on the legendary Clos Roche Blanche estate.
- The wine name translates to The Break, created as a refreshing vin de soif to enjoy during work breaks.

## Food pairing

The bright acidity, featherweight body, and soft tannins of this natural Gamay make it remarkably versatile alongside charcuterie, cured meats, and savory mushroom dishes. High acidity cuts through richness without astringency.

## Wine making process

Sourced from old Gamay vines planted in 1978 on clay and flint soils over limestone. Hand-harvested in small crates, the grapes undergo 2 to 3 weeks of whole-cluster semi-carbonic maceration in open-top foudres using native wild yeasts. The wine is aged for 5 to 6 months in 500L wooden barrels and neutral tanks, then bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with minimal added sulfites.