The Loire Producer|Mikaël Bouges | Wayward Wines
The Loire

Producer – Mikaël Bouges

The Loire Valley is one of the most diverse and expansive regions France. In fact, it spans so far that it’s best thought about as a number of different sub-regions. The vineyards tend to flank the Loire River and its offshoots. Starting from the Atlantic coast in the West, home of Muscadet, through to Anjou, Saumur and Touraine in the middle, all the way to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the region as a whole is about 600 miles long. With each sub-region possessing its own microclimate, terroir and history, it’s no surprise that the Loire valley offers a plethora of different wine styles and is home to a real community of natural wine makers. From age-worthy Chenin Blanc, both dry and sweet; flinty, electric Sauvignons; herbaceous Cabernet Franc; classic Crémants and everything in between. Of course, we’re always excited to get our hands on some of the lesser known varieties - aromatic Grolleau Gris; electric Menu Pineau; perfumed Pinot d’Aunis, the list goes on. The wines of the Loire are as enchanting as the picturesque, châteaux-laden region itself. Diverse, exciting, and vibrant - a place very close to our hearts, being the region that we first imported our own wine as Wayward Imports. We encourage you to check out our selection!

Mikaël Bouges
La Bulle 2023

A bit like biting into a crunchy red apple right out of the fridge, the wine is whistle-clean, zippy and fresh. Gentle notes of underripe strawberry, tart bramble berries and a twang of rhubarb lead into savoury bitters in the finish. Find out more.

  • Region Touraine, Loire, France
  • Grapes Côt (Malbec) & Gamay
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£24.50

Quantity

Mikaël Bouges
French Clara 2023

Less steely and with softer edges than his more classical staple 'La Pente de Chavigny', this feels open and expressive, but never anything other than laser-beam linear. Juicy green apple, elderflower and ripe pear come together in a salivating meld, with a line of raw lemon citrus cutting it all through - without intervention, none of Mikaël’s whites complete malolactic, giving the wine some good vibrancy and edge. Find out more.

  • Region Touraine, Loire, France
  • Grapes Sauvignon Blanc
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, minimal additional sulphites
£22

Quantity

Mikaël Bouges
La Pente De Chavigny 2023

The 2023 vintage marks a return to the style of his 2021 vintage, more rounded than the lean 2022, with pear drops and zippy citrus by the mouthful. Find out more.

  • Region Touraine, Loire, France
  • Grapes Sauvignon Blanc
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, minimal additional sulphites
£21.75

Quantity

Mikaël Bouges
Prométhée 2023

Like all of Mikaël's wines from the dry 2022 vintage, there is a chiselled structure and profound minerality, the vines having reached deep down to the limestone bedrock for nutrients. White peach and spices with taut acidity and a delicate, honeyed quality, neatly balanced out with a pronounced salty minerals. A wine of precision and poise. Find out more.

  • Region Touraine, Loire, France
  • Grapes Chenin Blanc
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, minimal additional sulphites
£26.75

Quantity

Wayward Christmas Cases
Christmas Crackers

‘Christmas Crackers’ is our intermediate case, featuring bottles to keep back for those special meals and moments. Find out more.

  • Region Various
  • Grapes Various
£150

Quantity

Mikaël Bouges
French Claret 2023

A light-footed new counterpart to Mikaël's crowd-pleasing French Clara, and much like that wine, it is incredibly easy get on with - perfect fare for the table or a bottle to open when nothing too demanding is required. Find out more.

  • Region Touraine, Loire, France
  • Grapes Côt
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, no additional sulphites
£19.75

Quantity

Mikaël Bouges
Les Couilles d'Anes 2022

A serious wine with a silly name - Couilles d'Anes translates as 'donkey balls', a colloquial term coined by the local vigneron to describe the unusual black stones that can be found dotting the vineyard soils in certain locations. A delightfully aromatic vintage, bright cherry and bramble fruits meld with a violet perfume in the glass. Find out more.

  • Region Touraine, Loire, France
  • Grapes Côt
  • Vineyard Organic
  • Cellar Fermented with native yeasts, unfiltered & unfined, minimal additional sulphites
£29

Quantity