French Wine

Quick Expert Summary - Vintage 2024

🇫🇷 Vinatis Experts18/20 (Approx. 93 Pts) Praised for excellent value for money. Notes are floral, soft, and fruity, making it ideal for aperitifs, cheese, and seafood.

Winemaker Description 

Remarkably aromatic with pleasant flower and fruit fragrances. On the palate it reveals a freshness and vivacity that is pure and clean. Citrus, apple and gooseberry aromas with hints of passion fruit are found in this lively and bright wine.

An incredible value. Here is an excellent aperitif that is also outstanding with fish, seafood and certain white meats.

Enjoy Petit Bourgeois with a halibut steak in lemon butter, a kingfish carpaccio, some grilled white fish or goat cheese.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins writes:  One of our favorite recommendations for the past three years, Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rose is made of 100% Pinot Noir and is certain to make your mouth water!  The wine is balanced between juicyness and acidity, with obvious red berry notes.  Boulay’s Sibylle Rose is made from mature 35 to 40+ year old vines, in the village of Chavignol, where many believe the best Sancerre is made.  - 67Wine Buyer

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Vinous by Rebecca Gibb writes 94 Points | The 2024 Sibylle is a fabulous Ros. There was no red made at Boulay in 2024 and what would normally go in the reds made it into the Sibylle. As a result, this is a high-quality, intensely concentrated style. There's an element of fleshiness, but then here comes the acidity to tie it all up. This is sophisticated, pale and vinous. Its a proper pink.

Winemaker Notes

Unlike many Sancerre Roses, Gerard harvests his Pinot specifically to make rose by direct press, then into tank. It is not a selection of young vines as he has no young Pinot vines. What makes the rosé one year could make red another, and vice versa, depending on what the vintage gives. 

Varietals: Pinot Noir. Organic: Practicing. Vineyard: From 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines on the steep hillsides in front of the Boulay home in Chavignol. Orientation: Multiple parcels, varied exposure. Soil: Steep clay hillside. Viticulture: Gerard works the soil manually and lets nature make the wine. Vinification: Tank fermented. Boulay adds no yeast and minimal amounts of SO2. Aging: Tank aged. Production: 200 cases annually.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer, writes: A lovely alternative to Sancerre, hands down delicious with refreshing purity and harmonious balance. The aroma is enticingly perfumed with scents of white peach, honeydew melon and lemon verbena. Lively and energetic in the mouth, with freshness and purity in every sip.  Nice mineral finish. Perfect with salads, light poultry and grilled fish.

Winemaker Description

Located in Pouilly-sur-Loire, in the heart of the France’s Loire Valley, the Domaine Gilles Chollet uses modern wine-making techniques to bring out the best of the Pouilly Fumé terroir. The 30 acres estate is comprised of clay-limestone and sandy soils and benefits from a south-western exposure. The vines are cultivated in accordance with sustainable agricultural methods known as “Lutte Raisonnée”. 

Gilles Chollet worked in the vineyards for over ten years before taking over the Domaine from his father to develop it with his wife. 

Little by little, Gilles has invested in high-performance equipment that allows him to better control the fermentation and to extract a maximum of aromas.

Concours Général Agricole Paris Silver Medal 

Winemaker Description 

"Attitude" has a beautiful freshness in mouth, a frank attack, delicate green and lemon flavors, citrus fruits, green apple and kiwi aromas. The minerality gives a long finish to the wine, a smoothness and elegance.

Very pleasant with or without food, in particular with seafood, asparagus, roasted fish and goat's milk cheese.

Winemaker Description

Classic Muscadet on granite. The core of the "La Pépie" Sur Lie bottling is the 10-hectare heart of the Pépière estate, which is part of the Clisson cru in the tiny commune of Pépière near the winery; there is also a significant percentage of their cru Château Thébaud fruit typically, as well as some purchased fruit from a nearby organic farmer friend in the mix. Farming is certified-organic and the harvest by hand. 100% Melon. 

Winemaker Description

A great example of unique style of the maison. The Sancerre is a perfectly balanced wine, elegant, perfumed, with great depth and flavor definition. A dry, mineral palate is the perfect frame for delicate aromas of white fruit, orchard flowers and a subtle smokiness.

Unique, precise, chic, timeless and divinely good. Ideal as an aperitif and a delicious accompaniment to oysters, sashimi or white fish. 

 

Producer Description 

Purchased by the Comte Lafond, an ancestor of the current owner, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, Château du Nozet and its surrounding vineyards have a reputation for producing the finest Pouilly-Fumé.

The delicate and complex olfactory expression opens on aromas which remind of white flower, exotic fruits. There is a very beautiful complexity for a vintage where the end-of-season’s sun brought a lot to the aromas. Excellent complexity that translates into great and elegant richness. Nice attack, straight and bright, it takes place with elegance on fruity notes associated with a dense structure and a beautiful acidity which brings a great length in the end of the mouth. There are aromas of exotic fruits (litchi, mango).

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Spectator by Kristen Bieler writes 89 Points | Apple, pear and citrus cream are backed by a laser beam of acidity and crushed flint. Warm hay and heather notes add dimension, while the finish is crackling and linear. Drink now through 2026. 2,500 cases imported.

Memo Notes Summary 

De Ladoucette is unique in that it utilizes no oak in its vinification, aging the wine on its fine lees in glass-tiled tanks. This process maximizes the fresh, terroir-driven characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc grape.

Color: Pale golden-green, bright and limpid.

The nose is delicate yet complex, exhibiting a beautiful array of white flowers (lilac, white blossoms), citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon peel), and exotic fruit (lychee, mango). The quintessential flinty/mineral aroma, known as fumé (smoke), is usually present, especially as the wine opens.

The classic, mineral-driven profile of Pouilly-Fumé makes it one of the most versatile white wines for dining:

• Seafood: A perfect match for all shellfish, including oysters, scallops, and shrimp, as well as grilled white fish (sea bass, turbot).

  Cheese: The traditional pairing is goat cheese, especially Crottin de Chavignol or fresh Chèvre. Its acidity cuts through the cheese's creaminess beautifully.

  
  

  Poultry & Other: Light white meats, salads, and vegetable dishes like asparagus risotto or chicken with a cream/lemon sauce.

Winemaker Description 

Overall, Gerard Boulay's “terre blanche” vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay's neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan).

These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above "regular" Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay's place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons."

Memo Pairing Notes 

This wine is a classic pairing for goat cheese, especially the local Crottin de Chavignol. Other excellent pairings include:

• Fresh oysters and grilled seafood.

• Arugula salad or roasted peppers.

• Lemon Chicken 

Benoit Chauveau Pouilly-Fume is an exuberant expression of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc that is pure pleasure in the glass! A lively bouquet of citrus fruits and lemony blossoms develop into refreshing flavors of tangerine, mango and lime leaf with an elegant crispness and delightfully long finish. Drink it as an aperitif or with sushi, light seafood and poultry dishes as well as spicy stir fry. 

- Bart, 67 Wine Buyer

Winemaker Description

Gentle and refreshing on the palate, it boasts a delightful balance of stony minerality with luscious, almost honeyed fruit and flowery notes. The combination of freshness and delicate fragrances allows it to be served with grilled white fish and meats, shellfish, roasted vegetables and Japanese cuisine. Also, makes an ideal aperitif.  Céline Champalou’s Vouvray is always a joy to drink. The wine seems so pure, as if it bubbled up out of the limestone into a cool, limpid pool tended by nymphs and satyrs who pour it into the mouths of weary souls. That’s what I feel, anyway, when I grab a bottle from the fridge."

—Dustin Soiseth

 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | Chenin Blanc is a grape that generally flies under the radar screen, which to me is baffling given its charming character and pleasant drinkability. Father and son Francois and Julien Pinon work exclusively with Chenin Blanc on their 15 hectare estate in the Vallée de Cousse. Their work in the vineyard is in complete in harmony with natural and they have been certified organic by Ecocert since 2003. 

The 2022 Vouvray Buvez du Bon Pinon sports a gorgeous bouquet reminiscent of a walk through an orchard field during spring blossom. Aromas of white stone fruits, peaches, pears, wildflower honey and quince emerge from the glass with lively fanfare. Energetic and effortless in the mouth with refreshing lift and well balanced vibrant acidity, with a long and tangy delicious finish. 

This is a wine that will add cheerful accompaniment to chicken, seafood, salads and vegetable dishes.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

John Gilman - The View From The Cellar writes 94 Points | The special old vine bottling of Vouvray Sec, “Buvez du Bon Pinon”, made its debut in the 2020 vintage. Readers may remember that Julien Pinon made this wine in hommage to his greatgrandfather, Camille Pinon, and the wine is made from vines planted by Camille in the immediate aftermath of World War II in 1945, in a parcel of Silex Noir soils. The wine is barrel-fermented and raised in the same old casks, which happen to be the oldest that the family still owns. The 2022 follow-up to the brilliant 2020 version is also outstanding, offering up a deep and complex bouquet of apple, quince, beeswax, flinty soil tones, white lilies, iris blossoms and a touch of citrus peel in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, young and complex, with a rock solid core of fruit from these ancient vines, great soil signature, zesty acids and superb balance on the long, vibrant and very promising finish. The 2022 version is a touch more reticent out of the blocks than the 2020, which wore its heart on its sleeve upon release, and tucking this beautiful bottle of Vouvray in the cellars for a handful of years before pulling corks would be well rewarded.

Expert Review

Kristen Bieler writes: Light notes of cherry, licorice root and plum are ripe and plush, with a silky feel and a subtle waft of alder smoke and tobacco leaf. Dried violet, pepper and sage elements add detail on the firm, incense-kissed finish. Elegant and light on its feet. Drink now through 2027. - Wine Spectator 90

Winemaker Notes

The historic property of Chteau du Hureau - one of the only wine producing Chateaux in the Loire - is among the top producers of Saumur-Champigny. The Chateau has been in the family for generations, and today, is run by fifth generation vigneron Philippe Vatan and his daughter Agathe.

Their entry-level "Tuffe" is 100 percent Cabernet Franc fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless steel tank.

Dark, intense and sappy, with plenty of lovely fruit and floral notes, balanced by acidity and minerality from the underlying limestone soils. The quality and intrigue of the Chteau du Hureau wines continue to soar, as does their following at home and abroad."~Distributor Notes

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu is a pure, refined, seamless style with pear, pineapple and nectarine flavors. It boasts excellent clarity and refinement, with lovely freshness hailing from calibrated acidity that bursts through this blossoming wine. Considering this was only bottled three weeks before tasting, I’m very encouraged by the results.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Fresh-crushed apple, quince and spice notes have an earthy dimension, with hints of roasted agave and wet soil. There's beautiful range and just enough plumpness to make this generous, yet it's held in check by a chalky mineral element and very fine tannins. Toasted almond and salted butter notes move in, with lime-edged acidity cleaning up the finish. Refined and complex. Drink now through 2037.

Winemaker Description 

The original Huët vineyard is nearly 9 hA. It has the richest soils of the domaine’s three crus - a deep limestone-clay - and the wines are generally the estate’s most approachable. In some vintages, small quantities from nearby estate parcels may be added to Le Haut-Lieu. Winemaker Description.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Complices de Loire La Grande Parcelle Chenin Blanc from Montlouis-sur-Loire, France. This is an elegant white wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape, typical of this Loire region. This wine offers a wonderful balance between freshness and complexity, with aromas of citrus fruits, peach and white flowers, as well as a mineral undertone that reflects the calcareous soils.

The wine has a lively acidity and a soft, refined structure, which provides a refreshing and well-balanced taste. It is an ideal accompaniment to fish dishes, shellfish or goat cheese. La Grande Parcelle is a beautiful representation of the terroir of Montlouis-sur-Loire, with a subtle but present depth.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 95 Points | The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Mont is precise, upright and flinty. It's less immediately charming than the styles we've seen in recent warmer vintages, but it was only tasted three weeks after bottling—this is one to revisit. There's just the right amount of juicy, peachy flesh within this light-bodied yet concentrated wine. It has the potential to charm but does so without showing off. Flinty and tightly sewn together, it has curves in the right places, but you're just going to have to wait for it to take shape.

Winemaker Description 

Le Mont wines are often the estate's most reticent, but develop the strongest perfume with age. Mineral-driven with a crystalline purity, this is the precision we've come to rely on with Le Mont.

The Lucien Crochet Sancerre La Croix du Roy Blanc 2023 is a highly-regarded wine that represents a classic, structured style of Sancerre from the Loire Valley, France.
Lucien Crochet is one of Sancerre's most consistent and respected producers, and this bottling is praised for its balance of texture and freshness.

La Croix du Roy" is typically the most full-bodied and structured of Crochet's standard Sancerre offerings.

The wine's rich texture and vibrant acidity make it highly adaptable:

* Classic Pairing: Goat cheese (Crottin de Chavignol).
* Seafood: Poached salmon, sushi, oysters, or Moules Frites.
* Other: Dishes featuring fresh herbs and white sauces.

Winemaker Description 

The Pascal Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnés 2022 is a distinguished Sauvignon Blanc from the renowned Chavignol region in the Loire Valley, France. Cultivated on the steep, chalky slopes of the Monts Damnés vineyard—known as “the damned mountains” due to their challenging terrain—this wine embodies both elegance and power.

The 2022 vintage offers a complex bouquet of citrus peel, green apple, and white flowers, interwoven with a pronounced chalky minerality. On the palate, it delivers flavors of morello cherries, cracked black pepper, and juicy red plums, balanced by refreshing acidity and a medium-bodied structure. The wine's profile is marked by its freshness and approachability, making it suitable for various occasions.

Ideal pairings include shellfish, grilled fish, and creamy goat cheeses, making it a delightful choice for refined dining experiences.

This exceptional wine is a testament to Pascal Cotat's commitment to producing some of the most singular and age-worthy Sauvignon Blancs in the world.

Aromas of melons, fresh herbs, white flowers; a delicate note of sea salt. Creamy yet light on the tongue; poached white fruits, lime zest, grapefruit. Very long.

Expert Review

Kristen Bieler writes:  Refreshing and light-bodied, with mineral-driven energy behind its light notes of pear and meadow blossoms. Yeasty, salty drive keeps this focused and bright. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

A wine best expressed in its youth, Amphibolite is citrusy and sizzling with a lovely salinity on the finish. Jo refers to Amphibolite as a "free-spirited" Muscadet! 

Organic (EcoCert) and biodynamic farming. 

Expert Rating - Vintage 2022

Vinous 93 Points by Rebeca Gibb, MW | The 2022 Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux is a supple, tender style. It's delicate on the palate while succulent and medium-sweet, which is quite a feat. You'll struggle to find many producers in the world who can achieve this balance. It has a fine, delicate fragrance of apple, pear and even a hint of celery. The finish is gentle, with a fine texture lightly coating the palate. A little shorter than I'd like ideally, but still super stuff. (47g/L RS).

Winemaker Description

Taking its roots deep into the chalk soils of Vouvray, this off-dry wine resonates beautifully in the mouth. Its natural sugar and refreshing acidity blend harmoniously. Aerial and complex, this fruity wine is to be appreciated young, but can reveal itself graciously to the ones who wait. 

Winemaker Description 

"L'Affreux Jojo" means "the ugly Jojo". In the stronghold of Cabernet Franc in Touraine, Geoffrey de Nouel highlights old terroirs, those of Sainte Maure de Touraine. The result is a wine without artifice, short-aged, full of fruit and with few sulphites: the awful Jojo!

Vinification: 1/3 whole cluster (carbonic maceration), 2/3 destemmed grapes. Maceration of 2-3 weeks. Fermentation is in fiber glass with natural yeasts. The wine ages for 6 months in fiber glass tanks. No filtration, no fining. Grape varieties :100% Cabernet Franc Vineyard age :25-year-old vines Soil Clay, flint, gravel Alcohol :12.5%.

Geoffrey de Noüel is a young vigneron on the rise in Chinon, an AOC located in central Loire, where some of the greatest Cabernet Franc is being produced. He started his winemaking journey in 2011 with a series of internships in Burgundy, then transported the Burgundian idea of cultivating and vinifying a singular grape on different plots (to showcase the terroir of each) to his own project in the Loire. All of Geoffrey's vineyards are certified organic, and his goal is to work as hands off as possible to produce transparent wines that showcase the varied soils of the area. Geoffrey is intent on showcasing the terroir of the different sites that he works with and believes in minimal intervention in the cellar.  

Domaine Du Clos Naudin Philippe Foreau Vouvray Extra Brut 2019 is an elegant, méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine from France’s Loire Valley. Crafted from 100% Chenin Blanc, it offers crisp acidity, fine bubbles, and complex aromas of green apple, citrus, and minerality. Dry and refreshing, it’s a perfect pairing with seafood, creamy cheeses, or as an apéritif. 🍾✨

Producer Description 

From the warm (even by today’s standards) 2019 growing season comes this masterful Vouvray Extra-Brut, which spent four full years on its lees, and to which Philippe and Vincent applied a mere 1.33 grams-per-liter dosage—their lowest ever.

Philippe prefers a small dosage to none, as he states that it improves the wine’s capacity to age, and he and Vincent employ rigorous double-blind dosage trials to determine the final amount.

With its low-for-Vouvray acidity and its full malolactic fermentation (rare for Foreau), this wine benefits from its modest dosage, as it maintains taut acidity and clings mightily to the palate as its notes of truffle, candied lemon, and lanolin echo far into the distance.

Expert Review

John Gilman 96 Points | This is my first taste of Domaine des Closiers top bottling, les Trezellières, which is made from a parcel of old vines and given fully two years aging in barrel, with somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the casks new. The 2019 les Trezellières is beautifully deep and refined aromatically, delivering scents of black cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a very complex base of soil, a touch of Cheval Blanc-like menthol, a gentle dollop of tree bark, cedar and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, elegant and rock solid at the core, with great focus and complex, superb soil undertow, fine-grained tannins and a very long, pure and classy finish.

The small percentage of new oak gives this wine more refinement than the les Coudraies bottling, but because it is no more than twenty percent new oak, the wood influence is far more subtle out of the blocks than in Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg bottling, which is the closest comparison I can think of for this brilliant young Saumur Champigny. Give this beautiful wine plenty of time in the cellar to properly resolve its tannins and completely blossom! (2019). 

Winemaker Description 

The delicate and complex olfactory expression opens on aromas which remind of white flower, exotic fruits. There is a very beautiful complexity for a vintage where the end-of-season’s sun brought a lot to the aromas. Excellent complexity that translates into great and elegant richness. Nice attack, straight and bright, it takes place with elegance on fruity notes associated with a dense structure and a beautiful acidity which brings a great length in the end of the mouth. There are aromas of exotic fruits (litchi, mango).

Purchased by the Comte Lafond, an ancestor of the current owner, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, Château du Nozet and its surrounding vineyards have a reputation for producing the finest Pouilly-Fumé. The vineyards are in Pouilly-Fumé Contrôlée, which includes Pouilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Andelain and Tracy-sur-Loire at the eastern end of the Loire Valley (including the vineyard of the Château du Nozet estate).

Both clay and limestone influence the delicate characteristics in Ladoucette Baron de L Pouilly-Fumé. This Grande Cuvée of Pouilly Fumé is produced exclusively in the best years and from the first pressing of the estate’s grapes. Winemaker Description. 

Warehouse stored item - please allow three to five business days to fulfill.

Grown on clay and gravelly soil, this 100% Cabernet Franc from Chinon, is fruitywith soft tannins and exults aromas of red berries.

Winemaker Description 

Mellow tannins, along with a touch of bright acidity, guide this delicious little bistro-style red to a tasty, enduring finish. Enjoy an assortment of roasted or grilled vegetables, grilled chicken thighs marinated in Moroccan spices or pork chops slathered in homemade barbecue sauce.

L’Ile Quatre Sous comes from a single vineyard in Parnay with a high proportion of sandy soil which yields a softer “bistrot style” red wine to be enjoyed right away. The name means "Four Penny Island", and refers to an actual sandy bank located in the middle of the Loire River near Parnay (though no vines are actually planted there).

95 Points Vinous | Set for release in November 2022, the 2017 Les Poyeux is a delightful wine. While waiting for the winemaker, I was left with a glass of this in the chalky cellars and I really struggled to find anything wrong with it. This is a blend of two parcels within the Poyeux vineyard. It's as if you are drinking a cloud of Cabernet Franc, that floats along in your mouth, before the mouthwatering acidity flows forth. This light to mid-weight wine has incredible density despite its delicacy. The purity of fruit is impressive and shows red cherry, black olive, savory and tea leaf-like tannins. Typically a more accessible wine than Le Bourg, you could drink on release but it will go on and on. (2017).

92 Points Decanter Magazine : The nose is more restrained than Le Clos 2017 or Les Poyeux 2018. There's a small touch of minerality in the background, and a mineral edge to the finish. Very tight on the palate, all the purity of the cuvée is hiding behind the structure; the fruits will shine through in time. This really needs time but should soften to great elegance over some years. (2017).

Malbec in the Loire Valley is called Cot as it is in Cahor.  This is an inky dark wine that is dense, mouthfilling, with black fruit, raspberry, pepper, and rustic flavors.  This big red calls out barbecue!  We heartily recommend this special wine that rarely comes to the U.S.

Winemaker Notes

The nose on the powerfully built organic Malbec offers notes sweet and sour cherry, fresh blackberry, and country herbs. Concentrated and intense, presenting a silky texture and an elegant finish. A gorgeous Malbec from the banks of the Loire river. 

Winemaker Description 

Deep red with purple hues. Dark chocolate and tobacco notes on opening. When oxygenated, subtle aromas of red fruit (raspberry) and blackberry appear, accompanied by a hint of pepper. A rich and complex scent that oscillates between these different aromas. Smooth and rich, flavors of stewed red fruit and spices, velvety texture provided by soft and deep tannins. The warmer finish is balanced by notes of pralin and black pepper. A powerful and savory mouthfeel.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

Decanter 91 Points | A sense of minerality with gunflint on the nose, almost a tertiary character, giving the impression of a cooler vintage. The palate is quite backward, and the fruit purity has not really come out to the extent of the 2018, so this is much less revealing. 

Vinous 90 Points | The 2017 Le Clos is a blend of 15 sites across five hectares. It is a richly fragrant, brooding style, with lots of complex layers. Light on its feet, its compact core is rich with texture, and its flavors linger long. There's a meaty edge, olives, dried herbs and a rather drying conclusion, which is a bit suspect and leaves a question mark for its future longevity. 

Jancis Robinson 18/20 Points  | This is worth every penny of its price tag. It has a hushed intensity. It’s mellow, fitting into itself like an old library: dust and shelves, polished coppery red wood and the smell of a warm fireplace. Parchment and pages and ink and leather-bound books. It's sweet and smoky, concentration and power pulsing through the fruit in waves. Damsons, cloves and tobacco-smoke tendrils, cigars. The tannins fan fine and fragrant, across and through, a plethora but in exquisite restraint. This is a real beauty. One of the best wines of the tasting. 

Producer Description 

Soft, light and mineral with subtle notes of green pear, lemon and honeydew melon, fresh acidity and a clean finish .This wine features lean bright acidity and minerality.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Clos de la Dioterie is a sophisticated, seductively perfumed style—brooding yet aromatic. Its concentrated flavors are pure; it remains light and elegant, with a delectable, chalky, veil-like texture residing on your tongue as the finish draws out with precision, sinew and line. This is a fine, texturally intriguing wine.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

The wine is dry, round and supple, with a beautiful refreshing acidity. It gives off notes of ripe fruits, peaches and pink grapefruit… On the palate, it gives immediate pleasure and has lovely weight.
 

 

Winemaker Description 

Grape varietal : Melon de Bourgogne. Vine age : 40 years. Farming : Ecological Farming. Vinification : Méthode traditionnelle. After initial fermentation in underground cement tanks, the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in bottle and is aged on the lees for 9 months.

The House of Chéreau Carré occupies the most privileged position in the Loire-Atlantique department of France. This family-owned property dates back to the 15th century. The vines here are some of the most prized in the region of the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine.

The property is managed by Bernard Chéreau, whose family origins span back to the eleventh century. Bernard’s passion for Melon de Bourgogne is evident in the quality of his wines.

Our Professional Notes

Oscar Garcia Moncada, 67 Wine Buyer, writes:  On the nose, you’ll encounter an enticing bouquet of wild red berries—raspberries, strawberries, and red currants. The palate continues the red berry theme, delivering a tangy, fruit-forward experience complemented by a delightful saline minerality that adds complexity. The finish is crisp and dry, with a bright, natural acidity that makes this wine a fantastic choice as an aperitif or a versatile companion to food. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Benujamin Lewin, MW of Decanter writes 95 Points | Great sense of fruit purity on the nose, showing a mélange of black fruits. This shows brilliance on the palate, it’s very flavourful, with almost savoury undertones lingering on a very long finish. A sensation of gunflint shows retronasally. This is a rare combination: the height of elegance combined with depth. Drinking Window: 2032-2052.

La Revue du Vin de France writes 94 Points | As for Le Bourg, it remains faithful to the generously toasted and hedonistic expression of its barrel ageing. A concentrated material, a sensation of sweetness and power accompany the salient tannic framework that the years will soften. 

Winemaker Description 

Clos Rougeard was created in 1664 on the land of Chacé, a village not far from Saumur. Eight generations have succeeded one another at the head of the estate, the most recent being the Foucault brothers. From the 1980s onwards, Charly and Nady adopted a singular philosophy to enhance the terroirs of Saumur and Saumur-Champigny: leave the wine in peace so it can expresses its own identity. No synthetic products are added to the vines, gentle vinifications are thought out like infusions and minimalist approach is claimed. In 2017, the Bouygues family bought the estate and has continued the work begun by their emblematic predecessors with a deep respect for the DNA of the winery and its identity. Today the estate has found its balance thanks to a passionate team who strives to preserve the excellence and uniqueness of the wines whose depth, finesse and precision are unparalleled.

Located in the heart of the village of Chacé, Le Bourg is composed of very old vines and lies on a predominantly limestone terroir on shallow clay loam, typical of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. This wine reveals riper, fleshier fruit and a dense, full-bodied texture. Le Bourg is from vines averaging 80 years old, planted on a thin layer of clay over a deep bed of tuffeau, also in Chacé. The combination of vine age and richer soil makes this the most powerfully structured wine in Clos Rougeard’s array.

Winemaker Description 

Clear pale yellow colour. Delicate nose combining fresh grapes with elegant mineral tones. Equally dynamic on the palate, with a clear emphasis on freshness and aromatic clarity. The slightly saline finish.

Having become a reference in the appellation, Claude-Michel Pichon has enjoyed a solid career in the world of wine. After starting out as a cellar master and buyer for a trading house, he succeeded his father Raymond in 2009 at the head of Château La Chevillardière and its 88 hectares of vines.

He developed the operation by purchasing plots abandoned due to a lack of successors, while planting new areas. "Our whites are characterized by fresh mineral notes and a real typicity, like those of Château de La Chevillardière which benefit from a terroir of granite and micaschist," he considers.

It is important to make Muscadet known. And if we do not yet produce communal vintages, it is undeniable that this recognition constitutes real added value for the general public who are not necessarily familiar with our products."