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2022 Menetou-Salon Blanc “Le Prieuré”
Prieuré de Saint-Céols

Marie and Joseph de Maistre

The Menetou-Salon appellation

Joseph de Maistre
I did a double take after my first sip of Joseph de Maistre’s scintillating Sauvignon Blanc from Menetou-Salon. This is from the Loire? My tasting notes included words like “silky” and “voluptuous.” While the hallmarks of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, like structure and minerality, are present, the level of ripeness and sheer deliciousness really stood out. An exciting debut from our newest Loire producer.
—Dustin Soiseth
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Appellation: | Menetou-Salon |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Prieuré de Saint-Céols |
Winemaker: | Joseph de Maistre |
Vineyard: | Planted in the 1990s; 9.86 ha |
Soil: | Clay, limestone, kimmeridgian marl |
Aging: | Aged on fine lees with regular batonnage for 12 months |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region

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2018 Saumur Blanc “Le Clos du Moulin”
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2023 Jasnières
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Racy, slightly honeyed, exotically perfumed, and loaded with minerality, this wine is an excellent representation of how Chenin reacts to the local conditions.

2018 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
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This chiseled Chenin Blanc comes from 70-year-old vines planted on an ancient limestone slope. Burgundian-like in character from its time spent in barrel, the laser-like acidity will become even more enticing with some age.

2023 Menetou-Salon Blanc “Le Prieuré”
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From a small but mighty appellation boasting an impressive soil loaded with fossilized oyster shells. Peachy, finely textured, and pleasantly verdant.

2023 Chinon Rosé
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April Club Gourmand ~ Matthieu Baudry captures both youthful fruit and energizing mineral textures with this rosé.

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A single-vineyard bottling whose age lends a soft, drawn butter richness to its bright, tart citrus palate.

2023 Anjou Rouge “Clos de la Cerisaie”
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2022 Chinon Blanc
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Ultra fresh and brimming with citrus blossom and orchard fruit notes, it has a saline, mineral finish that leaves my palate begging for more.

2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
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Outre Terre is a tiny production of Cabernet Franc fermented in amphora and aged in barrel.
About The Producer
Prieuré de Saint-Céols
Located just southwest of Sancerre, Menetou-Salon is home to over 600 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Little Menetou is exported relative to nearby Sancerre, yet its vineyards enjoy the same climate and distinguished soils of Kimmeridgian marl as its neighbor. Having grown up in the region, Joseph de Maistre was well aware of the appellation’s potential, so when he learned that Prieuré de Saint-Céols was up for sale, he pounced at the chance to run a domaine with vineyards in some of Menetou’s most esteemed sites. Joseph and his wife, Marie, farm twelve hectares, nine of which are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, and they recently completed a conversion to organic viticulture. They favor low-intervention winemaking, including natural fermentations, to allow the Kimmeridgian terroir to shine through in full. Joseph’s wines are elegant and lively with excellent minerality, showcasing the qualities that led Menetou to grace noble tables in centuries past.
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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2019 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
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2021 Vin de France Rosé Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Les Arceaux”
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2020 Saumur Blanc “Terres”
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
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2018 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine “Gorges”
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2023 Savennières “Cuvée Spéciale”
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2020 Sancerre Rouge "Champs d’Alligny"
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2023 Gros-Plant du Pays Nantais
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2023 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Sancerre “Les Cris”
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2023 Sancerre
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2019 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
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2021 Vin de France Rosé Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Les Arceaux”
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2020 Saumur Blanc “Terres”
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
A good doctor prescribed the wine of Nuits-Saint-Georges to the Sun King, Louis XIV, when he suffered an unknown maladie. When the king’s health was restored the tasty remedy enjoyed a vogue at court. Lord, send me a doctor like that!
Inspiring Thirst, page 117