Each release of our producers allows us to refocus for a minute on what makes them stand out - stand out within our portfolio, sure, but also within the wine world. So, with the impetus being the imminent arrival of Valentin Desloges' new release of Les Quatre Piliers, I posed the question to Thatcher: "Tell me what, in your mind, sets Valentin's wines apart?" The response from the boss struck a chord in me: "You don't drink them and think aboutSauvignon Blanc; it's not about 'varietal character', it's about the place, the person, and the stunning quality." Valentin's background says it all to me - Loire-born, but traveled to see Sauvignon Blanc's iterations in Bordeaux and New Zealand; then he gets a masterclass in small-parcel viticulture & vinification from Pillot & Coche. To some, it may seem random; yet, in finally tasting more of the wines, the intent could not have played out more precisely.