Les Vins Contés (CLOSED) - Olivier Lemasson (CLOSED)
Biography :
A sommelier by training, Olivier Lemasson crossed paths with natural wines by chance… He worked for one of the oldest wine merchants labeled natural wines, Eric Macé in Rennes. Passionate about these bizarre wines, Olivier got his start at Marcel Lapierre during 4 harvests, then for a full year between the vines and the cellar. After a brief return to the wine trade, at Square Trousseau in Paris, the virus prevailed. It is now based in Touraine.
Bio… story:
Les Vins Contés is the story of a meeting between a winemaker and a wine merchant. In 2002, Hervé Villemade owned a 12 hectare estate in Cheverny and wanted to set up a business. He sees Olivier as a passionate partner. The Wines Contés will feed on their complementarity. In 2006, everyone went back on their own: Hervé focused on his field. Olivier continues the adventure of Conté Wines and takes over two hectares in the Touraine appellation. Les Vins contés is a trading structure with an average yield of 40 hl per hectare (depending on the vintage, in 2003 for example: 28 hl / ha) and produces 45,000 bottles per year. The vines harvested by hand. Les Vins contés purchases standing grapes from certified organic growers or those who respect organic principles. Without counting the two hectares of Touraine taken over by Olivier (organic). The troop of Conté wines harvested by hand from Loire to Cher. The vines are scattered within a radius of 40 km which offers a variety of grape varieties and completely different terroirs.
Vinification: The reds are vinified in carbonic maceration without sulfur or punching down. Then begins maturing in barrels. For the whites, after an overnight settling in the cold, the wine is put in barrels without sulfur. When bottling, without filtration, Olivier sometimes has to add 1 to 2 g of sulfur per hectolitre, but only if the vintage or the wine requires it. Olivier applies the principle: "I do what I say, I say what I do".