The 2021 Bodet-Herold 'Les Greffiers' Crémant de Loire is one of the greatest sparkling wine values in the world—full stop. It delivers the precision, texture, and complexity of top grower Champagne at a fraction of the price, making it a standout for anyone seeking serious quality without the prestige markup.
The wine is crafted by Étienne Bodet, one of the Loire Valley’s most exciting young talents. His pedigree is exceptional: he trained under Chenin Master Romain Guiberteau (who is also his stepfather), and he is also one of the winemakers at the iconic Clos Rougeard, one of the most revered domaines in all of France. This background shows in every detail of the wine—thoughtful, precise, and deeply rooted in tradition.
His Les Greffiers bottling is 100% Chenin Blanc sourced from the top of a hillside vineyard planted on clay and limestone-rich soils, giving the wine both structure and mineral drive. It’s made using the traditional method, just like Champagne, and is aged 30 months on the lees to build layers of flavor and texture. Bottled as a Brut Nature with no dosage, it showcases pure fruit and terroir without any masking sweetness.
The result is a sparkling wine with remarkable tension and depth: bright citrus, crisp green apple, ginger, maritime mineral, and white flowers layered over subtle brioche and a fine, persistent mousse. It has the energy and minerality of great Loire Chenin combined with the autolytic richness you’d expect from far more expensive true Champagnes.
At its price point, very few wines in the world offer this level of craftsmanship, pedigree, and sheer drinking pleasure. Bodet-Herold's Les Greffiers doesn’t just compete with more expensive sparkling wines—it outperforms them.
When you get this into your glass at home, you will thank me for turning you onto it. I guarantee it!
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
