Laurent Herlin

Bourgueil — Loire Valley

http://www.laurentherlin.com/

Certified Organic & Biodynamic

After a successful career as a computer engineer, Laurent Herlin felt his lifelong passion for wine, ecology, and the Loire Valley’s Cabernet Franc calling. He studied in Beaune and interned in a few places before starting his domaine in 2009 with some purchased fruit. In 2011, he settled on a small farm in Bourgueil with 1ha of Cabernet Franc.

Today, the domaine has grown to 6ha of vineyards. Laurent farms organically and biodynamically. Soils are made of sand, gravel and clay-limestone. Grapes are hand-harvested in small boxes. Vinification is done with native yeasts in fiberglass or stainless steel vats, whole-cluster or de-stemmed depending on the vintage. Aging is done in vats or barrels. Nothing is added with the exception of a small amount of sulfur. He also loves to experiment – having made pét-nats and carbonic wines. Laurent’s wines are lively and expressive like the soils they come from, and outright delicious.