CHATEAU PIERRE BISE
Loire, France
Nestled on a high ridge overlooking the steep south-facing slopes of the Layon River, tributary of the Loire, Claude and Joelle Papin run 80 acres of land with their sons Rene and Christophe. The Layon in the Anjoy region of the Loire is, with the Cirons in Sauternes, one of the only rivers in France that allows the development of Botrytis, the noble rot that turn the grape into liquid gold.
Jancis Robinson MW describes Claude Papin as "One of the most talented wine growers in this part of the world". As a true terroirist he believes that blending different climate "even 1%" will prevent his wines from finding harmony. Since he took over the estate from his father in 1972, he conducted a deep analysis of his terroir, identifying 25 different "climates" all vinified separately.