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2016 Sauvignon Blanc “Unique”
Domaine du SalvardFrom their winery in the Loire Valley’s Touraine region, brothers Thierry and Emmanuel Delaille of Domaine du Salvard are producing some of the greatest Sauvignon Blanc values in the world. The climate here is perfect for ripening the fruit while maintaining plenty of zingy acidity, so it’s no wonder why rows of Sauvignon extend as far as the eye can see, interrupted only by the Loire Valley’s splendid châteaux and the meandering river itself. Salvard specializes in wines that deliver fruit-forward pleasure and unconditional refreshment, and the Unique is no exception. This pure Sauvignon saw fermentation and aging in stainless steel tanks, and it is released young, still bursting with juicy, citrusy energy and the scent of blossoming flowers. The mouthwateringly crisp finish is ideal for cleansing the palate after a bite of fresh goat cheese or with a bright seasonal salad. Quaffing down a bottle simply to slake one’s thirst is not unheard of, either.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2016 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Domaine du Salvard |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 12% |
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About The Producer
Domaine du Salvard
About The Region
Loire
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.