# St Nicolas de Bourgeuil Les Malgagnes (2021)

- **Producer:** Yannick Amirault
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €32
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black plum, black cherry, coffee, chocolate, cedar, leather, tobacco

## About this wine

St Nicolas de Bourgeuil Les Malgagnes 2021 is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation in the Loire Valley, France. Produced by Yannick Amirault, the wine originates from the 'Les Malgagnes' parcel, characterized by its limestone slope with clay soils. The Amirault family has a long-standing winemaking tradition, with a philosophy centered on minimal intervention and expressing the purity of the grapes and terroir. The estate is certified organic, and the 2021 vintage is noted for its refreshing acidity.

## Interesting facts

- The 'Les Malgagnes' parcel is one of the original sites Yannick Amirault first bottled.
- Vines at 'Les Malgagnes' are approximately 50 years old.
- The estate has been certified organic since 2009.
- Yields are intentionally kept low at 30 hl/ha.

## Food pairing

The wine's structure and tannins complement the protein in meat dishes, while its fruit notes can harmonize with earthy or savory elements. The refreshing acidity cuts through richer dishes, cleansing the palate.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for St Nicolas de Bourgeuil Les Malgagnes involves hand-harvesting grapes from vines approximately 50 years old. Fermentation takes place in oak vessels or open-topped oak vats using indigenous yeasts, followed by a long maceration period of up to 60 days. The wine is then aged for 13 months in a mix of oak casks, sandstone eggs, amphorae, and French oak demi-muids. The estate adheres to certified organic farming practices, including cover cropping, bud reduction, and lunar calendar-based vineyard management.