# Minette Gamay d'Auvergne (2024)

- **Producer:** Francine & François Dhumes
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €45
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, violet, rose, smoke, forest floor, mushroom

## About this wine

Cuvée Minette is produced by Francine and François Dhumes in Auvergne, France. Named in affectionate tribute to François' grandmother, Minette is regarded as the flagship and most structured wine of the estate. Sourced from old vines of Gamay d'Auvergne planted on steep basalt slopes overlooking the Allier River in Corent, the estate operates under organic and biodynamic principles under the name Le Chant de la Lune.

## Interesting facts

- Named in affectionate tribute to winemaker François Dhumes' grandmother.
- Made from Gamay d'Auvergne, a native clone with smaller berries and thicker skins than standard Gamay.
- The 2024 vintage was limited to roughly 500 bottles total due to severe spring frost.

## Food pairing

The lively acidity and fine-grained tannins of this structured Gamay pair exceptionally well with rich poultry, pork, and earthy wild mushrooms. Its volcanic minerality cuts through rich savory fats like duck and charcuterie seamlessly.

## Wine making process

The grapes are 100% destemmed and undergo an extended, slow maceration for three months in neutral vessels without synthetic inputs. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using wild indigenous yeasts. The wine ages for 12 to 18 months in old oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered, with zero added sulfur.