Bodet-Herold is a new sparkling wine project from husband and wife Etienne Bodet and Kim Herold that celebrated its inaugural release in 2022 with the 2017 vintage of this wine. Importer Becky Wasserman describes this project as a micro-negociant as Etienne and Kim produce only two wines in extremely small quantities: Physis comes from purchased fruit from two small, organically farmed vineyards while Clos Durandière (all Cabernet Franc) comes from a 3.5 acre vineyard Etienne and Kim were given as a wedding gift in 2015. To pay the bills, Etienne also has a full time job as winemaker at Clos Rougeard.

Etienne’s love of sparkling wines can be traced to his studies in Champagne where he worked under the guidance of several prestigious grower-producers. He chose to name the wine Physis—a reference to the idea of nature as a source of growth and change—as a nod to the Loire Valley’s ever-increasing potential as a world class sparkling wine region. Physis is produced from 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Grolleau with all the grapes pressed whole cluster at low temperatures, fermented using only native yeast, and then aged briefly in stainless steel before 30 months of aging in bottle. The gorgeous sparkling wine is defined by notes of fresh flowers, stone fruit, hazelnut, and a wisp of salinity. Physis is reminiscent of the great wines of Champagne but with the personality and flavor profile that only Loire Valley Chenin Blanc can provide.