With the help of the Foucaults and Francois Chidaine, Standeacute;phane was able to obtain about 3 hectares of Chenin vines in Montlouis to begin his quest. After a series of backbreaking vintages, he finally made a wine he was proud of in 2004, and he was off and running. Though he started out making several cuvandeacute;es, he finally settled on just one, Le Volagrandeacute;. His strict farming principles and exacting care in the cellar allowed him to produce wines of immense purity, transparency and definition. He was a man in pursuit of perfection and by all accounts was on the path to make a wine that would rival his mentors' when his life was cut tragically short in 2009 at the young age of 42. His friend and colleague Frantz Saumon took care of wrapping up theandnbsp;andeacute;landeacute;vage and bottling of his final vintage, 2008. Despite his incredibly premature departure,andnbsp;Standeacute;phaneand#39;sandnbsp;final wine is absolutely full of life and joy. It is a fitting culmination of many years of sweat and stress and a fantastic testament to the progress and emergence of his great talent. Given Standeacute;phane's unparelled lineage and the sheer class of this wine, we were surprised and thrilled when we were offered some recently, and we grabbed as much as possible. It's a little disheartening to imagine the heights that Cossais might have reached as he continued to mature as a vigneron, but it's also a pleasure to see that his final work was exactly what he set out to achieve andndash; a breathtaking Chenin to match the great Brandeacute;zandeacute;.
Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Spectacular. Like white burgundy made from Chenin. Wonderful. Terrific wood treatment.
Spectacular. Like white burgundy made from Chenin. Wonderful. Terrific wood treatment.
9.4Josh Orr
Still holding on to its youth. Chenin makes me very happy at the moment
Still holding on to its youth. Chenin makes me very happy at the moment
9.0Marc Stubblefield
Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant
Damn, this wine gets me. Profound and captivating, a wine I keep thinking about weeks later. This vintage is rounder and fleshier, pushing closer to great white Burgundy, where the 07 is more acid and Chenin wooly/sappy. Wow. So sad to have only just found these wines after Stephane's untimely death.
Damn, this wine gets me. Profound and captivating, a wine I keep thinking about weeks later. This vintage is rounder and fleshier, pushing closer to great white Burgundy, where the 07 is more acid and Chenin wooly/sappy. Wow. So sad to have only just found these wines after Stephane's untimely death.
9.3Alex Alan
Wine Director Hotel Delmano
Winemaker had a heart attack in the vineyard. Such a sad story. The wine is a stunner. Refined and full of joy.
Winemaker had a heart attack in the vineyard. Such a sad story. The wine is a stunner. Refined and full of joy.
9.2Mike Martin @TheWineShepherd
Wine Buyer Vintry Fine Wines
Some Stephane Cossais to start the year off correctly.. #Loire #Chenin @Renégat Wines @Patrick Cappiello
Some Stephane Cossais to start the year off correctly.. #Loire #Chenin @Renégat Wines @Patrick Cappiello
9.2EatSommThings (Jimmy)
Racey acidity. Lemon and vanilla on palate with medium plus body. Really well made like a Chablis
Racey acidity. Lemon and vanilla on palate with medium plus body. Really well made like a Chablis
9.3Alan Murray
Oak on Chenin. ?!?!?
Oak on Chenin. ?!?!?
8.7Paul Einbund
Wine Director/Sommelier Frances
Ok so the microbes are funky but as the last vintage j give it a sentimental 10!!! Long Chardonnay finish very interesting fun wine
Ok so the microbes are funky but as the last vintage j give it a sentimental 10!!! Long Chardonnay finish very interesting fun wine
8.8Jason Keefer
Loire have mercy, this is good! Stone fruit, granite, lemon zest. Every sip a new ride!
Loire have mercy, this is good! Stone fruit, granite, lemon zest. Every sip a new ride!
9.4Location
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