Minette draws from the Dhumes' oldest vines, originally planted by François' grandfather, growing on volcanic basalt soils in Corent, on a hillside overlooking the Allier river. This is Gamay d'Auvergne at its most structured. The grapes are destemmed entirely and macerated for roughly three months, a long and slow extraction that gives the wine its characteristic density and grip. It then spends a full year in old barrels before bottling. No sulphites added, nothing corrected.

The nose evokes black cherry, sweet spices and fresh earth, with a hint of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and textured, supported by ripe tannins and an underlying freshness that holds everything in balance. The hallmarks of Gamay d'Auvergne are unmistakable: tart dark fruit, dense minerality, rounded out by earth and smoke. Approachable young but genuinely worth the wait, Minette sits at the serious end of the Dhumes range, a wine that bridges the gap between seasoned natural wine lovers and those ready to discover what Auvergne Gamay can really do when given time and ambition.