# Le Penseur de Rotin (2024)

- **Producer:** Sagesse Des Sols
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.0%
- **Average price:** €14
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** lemon, grapefruit, blossom, apple, pear, butter

## About this wine

Le Penseur de Rotin is a distinctive white wine crafted by Sagesse Des Sols, a producer established in 2020 by Catherine and Frédéric Roger in the Anjou sub-region of France's Loire Valley. The name, a clever wordplay on Rodin's 'The Thinker' and rattan weaving, symbolizes the patience and balance inherent in their winemaking philosophy. Frédéric's family estate was converted to certified organic farming, allowing the 'Wisdom of the Soils' (Sagesse des Sols) to truly express itself. This wine stands out for its unique blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, a less common combination in Anjou, produced with a minimal intervention approach to highlight the fruit, freshness, and balance of its terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The wine's name, 'Le Penseur de Rotin,' is a clever wordplay on Rodin's 'The Thinker' and rattan weaving, symbolizing winemaking patience.
- Producer Sagesse Des Sols converted their family estate to certified organic farming in 2020, embracing the 'Wisdom of the Soils'.
- This unique Anjou blend combines Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, a less common pairing, showcasing the region's versatility.
- Crafted with minimal intervention, it's fermented with indigenous yeasts, unfined, unfiltered, and uses only a minimal dose of sulfur.

## Food pairing

The wine's crisp acidity, fresh citrus notes, and delicate buttery undertones make it incredibly versatile. It beautifully complements the richness of creamy poultry and seafood, while its saline finish and freshness cut through the richness of oysters and other shellfish. The fruit and floral aromatics also harmonize with lighter, herb-driven dishes and fresh cheeses.

## Wine making process

The vineyards for Le Penseur de Rotin are planted on sandstone schist with quartz veins, over a clay-sand subsoil that imparts freshness to the wines. Some vines are over 50 years old. Sagesse Des Sols practices certified organic viticulture, eschewing herbicides, mineral fertilizers, and pesticides, with all harvesting done manually. In the cellar, the wine undergoes direct pressing and is fermented exclusively with indigenous yeasts. It is then aged on fine lees in stainless steel or fiberglass tanks, remaining unfined and unfiltered. A minimal dose of sulfur is used, with total SO2 kept to approximately 30 mg/L, reflecting a commitment to natural winemaking principles.