Le Picatier is the small domaine of Geraldine and Christophe Pialoux near Roanne in the upper Loire.

Their small farm in Saint-Haon-le-Vieux is planted largely to gamay with the most elevated part of the slope, sitting just over 420m, being planted to a little parcel of Pinot Noir. A small number of rows of Chardonnay are planted close to the house also. The soils are very, very coarse, loose decomposed granite which imparts a real sense of freshness and aroma to the wines.

Christophe is driven by soil health and seeks to have a great level of digestibility in the Le Picatier wines. He loves to discuss how higher density of plant matter and, in particular, roots from grasses and herbs in the top soil leads to a greater degree of microbiology in the soil in general. Exploration of great wines through environmental health is an absolute way of life for them.

The gamays are open, aromatic, alluring and vibrant — testament to brilliant agriculture, very loose sandy, granitic soils and the fact that the wines are totally free of added sulphur and are not fined or filtered.