2016 Le Temps des Copains by Frederic Niger, Gamay “Astra” Vin de France, Loire Valley, France.
This is a new project of Fred Niger of Domaine de l’Ecu, which is like what Gavenat of Cotes du Jura fame is also doing, Fred had long dreamt of collaborating with like-minded growers and the project was kicked into high gear in 2017, because Fred had a near total loss of estate fruit in two successive vintages (2016 & 2017) due to hail and frost in Muscadet in the Loire region. “Le Temps des Copains” means “time with friends” and the wines are a collaboration between Fred and fellow natural driven winegrowers with Niger making the wines at de L’Cru. With Astra being his joint venture with Gamay from Benoît Landron, who is also in Muscadet, but some how managed to get his fruit through the worst of the weather, it’s fermented in tank, then aged in amphora with no sulfur added. This 2016 Astra is bright and textured natural wine with a deep ruby/garnet hue in the glass making for a very attractive and intriguing wine that impresses on the palate with layers of dark fruit, including plum, black cherry, strawberry and a touch of framboise along with mineral tones, mixed spices, soft floral elements, a touch of earth and dusty stones. There is a lot of youthful energy, but it is rather elegant in form and the acidity is perfectly matched to the smooth mouth feel, while the tannins are satiny ripe, all which highlight the class and focus in this wine, it’s impressive and wonderfully drinkable with it’s lifted fruit.
($35 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive

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