2019 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore “Capovolto”La Marca di San Michele
Italy | Le Marche
$27
Producers
Les Coutones is a monopole owned by the Chotards, a steep parcel that sits on a subsoil of Kimmeridgian marl. This type of soil is referred to as terres amoureuses because of the way in which the mud "lovingly" sticks to the vigneron's boots after a rain. While the southern exposure ensures plenty of ripeness, the coolness of the clay draws out the maturation, making this one of the Chotards' last-picked parcels each year. Vinified and raised in foudres, it is a fleshy, full-bodied Sancerre with great freshness and the ability to age in bottle for a few years after release.
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2019 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Appellation: | Sancerre |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Daniel Chotard |
Winemaker: | Simon Chotard |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1994 (1 ha), 2006 (.61 ha) |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Kimmeridgian Marl |
Aging: | After 1 year, wine is racked and aged 6 months in stainless steel before bottling |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
Daniel Chotard France | Loire | Sancerre
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
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.
Champalou France | Loire | Vouvray
Champalou France | Loire | Vouvray
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire | Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
Éric Chevalier France | Loire | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
Bernard Baudry France | Loire | Chinon
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire | Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
Domaine du Salvard France | Loire | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
Éric Chevalier France | Loire | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire
Domaine Roger Neveu France | Loire | Sancerre
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
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