In Memory of Loire Legend Jacky Blot
Recently I had the great pleasure to meet Jacky Blot. I have long been a fan of his wineries, Domaine Taille Aux Loups and Domaine de la Butte, when their wines were presented to me well over a decade ago. They represent an outsider's spirit in an emerging region, and he was one of the pioneers to make a sustainable impact on elevating these appellations to greatness. Last Monday I was incredibly saddened to hear of his passing. If you’re not familiar with his wines, now more than ever is the time to discover them for yourself.
Jacky was introduced to wine by his brother, a pâtissier in Paris. He became obsessed and decided to try his hand at winemaking. In 1988, he purchased his first 8 hectares of Chenin Blanc in Montlouis. At the time, few people were interested in the appellation, as its wines tended to be very lean. Ripening was difficult and harvests often came in around late October and early November. To further complicate things, Jacky also started immediately with organic farming, using native yeasts and some barrel aging. He even shied away from malolactic fermentation, and the tension and longevity achieved in its eschewal became his signature. Always ahead of the curve, he bottled many of his cru wines early on as single-vineyard selections. Eventually, his son Jean-Philippe joined the winery and now runs most of the winemaking and day-to-day operations.
Jacky's wines first appealed to the wine intelligentsia—dry and nervy whites made from Chenin and rich, textured Cabernet Francs. We tasted some older vintages and they were beautifully evolving with many more years ahead. Jacky's vision was progressive and inventive, even making extended sur lie aged sparkling wines.
This past February when I journeyed to the Loire, Montlouis-sur-Loire, where he created Taille Aux Loups, was on my radar. Since it had been on my bucket list forever, I prioritized meeting one of my wine idols. Though our encounter was brief the day I visited (Jacky had the flu), a quick hello was said, and he left me in the very capable hands of his son, Jean-Philippe. I am eternally grateful to have met him and want to thank Jean-Phillipe for his welcoming hospitality. Our thoughts are with the Blot family. Jacky’s legacy is everlasting, and his vision will live on in his wines for years to come. I hope you’ll join me in raising a glass to this valiant Loire legend.