2017 Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable”Domaine Les Pallières
France | Southern Rhône
$40
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Producers
Daniel recently passed the reins of the cellar over to his son Simon, who shares his mischievous smile and indomitable curly hair, and makes wines of impressive balance, finesse, and maturity for his young age.
This 2018 is no exception. An intense exotic nose lures you in before the minerality channels the lightning energy of this pure Sauvignon Blanc, jostling you wide awake. There’s electricity in the air, no? Or maybe it’s just Daniel’s accordion...
—Julia Issleib
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Daniel Chotard |
Vineyard: | 10.51 ha, 5-65 years |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Kimmeridgian marl |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy France | Loire | Sancerre
Pascal Janvier France | Loire | Coteaux du Loir
Charles Joguet France | Loire | Chinon
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire | Reuilly
Château d’Epiré France | Loire | Savennières
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
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.
Charles Joguet France | Loire | Chinon
Éric Chevalier France | Loire | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
Éric Chevalier France | Loire | Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu
Château d’Epiré France | Loire | Savennières
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire | Muscadet
Catherine et Pierre Breton France | Loire
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire | Bourgueil
Domaine Roger Neveu France | Loire
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire | Bourgueil
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
Charles Joguet France | Loire | Chinon
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312
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