French Wine

Mary Taylor Anjou Blanc — Pascal Biotteau, Loire Valley 2024

If no wine region on earth can rival the stylistic diversity of France's Loire Valley, the appellation of Anjou offers the perfect microcosm of the region as a whole. This gorgeously subtle Chenin Blanc comes from fourth-generation winemaker Pascal Biotteau in the village of Saint-Jean-de-Mauvrets — situated on the old Roman road from Angers to Poitiers, along the border of Anjou's two sub-regions. Imported by Mary Taylor, whose mission is to bring honest, terroir-driven wines from small European producers to American tables at fair prices, this is Loire Chenin Blanc at its most pure and unpretentious.

The nose is bright and inviting: crisp green apple, ripe pear, white peach, and delicate floral notes with hints of honey and citrus zest. On the palate, it is vibrant and well-balanced with refreshing acidity, a clean mineral-driven finish, and the quiet confidence that only old-vine Chenin Blanc from Anjou can deliver. Drink now through 2027.

"The perfect microcosm of the Loire — fresh, mineral, and utterly honest." — Mary Taylor Wines

• Producer: Pascal Biotteau, Saint-Jean-de-Mauvrets, Anjou, Loire Valley, France
• Importer: Mary Taylor Wines
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Anjou Blanc AOC
• Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Green apple, pear, white peach, honey, citrus zest, mineral finish
• Drink: Now through 2027
• Best Paired With: Grilled white fish, oysters, lobster bisque, soft cheeses, fresh goat cheese, light poultry, spring vegetable risotto

A textbook Anjou Blanc at a price that makes it an everyday essential — this Chenin Blanc is the Loire in a glass.

Winemaker Description

Gérard Boulay's "terre blanche" vineyards in Chavignol produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire Valley — wines with a delineation and minerality. Boulay stands among the appellation's finest producers, alongside neighbors Cotat and Vatan.

Tasting Notes

Precise and mineral-driven, with the hallmark flinty character of Chavignol's limestone soils. Expect citrus, white stone fruit, and a long, saline finish with exceptional tension and length.

Food Pairings

The classic match is Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese — a pairing rooted in the same village. Also excellent with fresh oysters, grilled seafood, arugula salad, roasted peppers, and lemon chicken.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2024
Region: Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
Village: Chavignol
Appellation: Sancerre AOC
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Style: White Wine

Gérard Boulay | Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France | Rosé | Organic | 2025

Made from 35–40 year old Pinot Noir vines on the steep clay hillsides of Chavignol — the village many consider the finest terroir in all of Sancerre — Boulay's Sibylle Rosé is one of the Loire's most sought-after small-production pours. Only 200 cases are made annually. Gérard harvests his Pinot specifically for rosé by direct press into tank, adds no commercial yeast, and uses minimal SO2, letting the vintage and the land speak for themselves. What makes the rosé one year could make red another — a true expression of place and season.

"One of our favorite recommendations for the past three years. Balanced between juiciness and acidity, with obvious red berry notes — certain to make your mouth water." — Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Vines: 35–40 years, Chavignol
Soils: Steep clay hillside
Farming: Organic (practicing)
Vinification: Direct press, tank fermented, no added yeast, minimal SO2
Production: ~200 cases annually
Drink: Now–2027

Tasting Notes

• Fresh red berries, strawberry, and subtle floral notes
• Juicy, mouth-watering palate with bright Sancerre acidity
• Crisp, clean finish | Mineral backbone | Elegant and precise

Pairings: Grilled salmon, goat cheese, charcuterie, light summer dishes, oysters

Réserve du Naufraget | Vouvray AOC | Loire Valley, France | 2024

From Maison Pierre Chainier, a family-owned négociant based in Amboise on the banks of the Loire, this Vouvray is a textbook expression of Chenin Blanc from one of France's most storied appellations. Grown on the chalky Tuffeau soils upstream from Tours, the grapes are handpicked in October — some with a touch of noble rot (botrytis) that concentrates natural sugars and adds aromatic complexity. A slow, month-long fermentation yields a beautifully off-dry style: a sweet, generous entry that resolves into a clean, refreshing finish.

Rich and aromatic on the nose with orange peel, honeysuckle, ripe quince, and a whisper of beeswax. The palate is round and textured, with flavors of honey, poached pear, and candied citrus carried by bright Chenin acidity. The finish lingers with a gentle honeyed note. One of the most food-versatile whites available at this price.

• Producer: Maison Pierre Chainier
• Appellation: Vouvray AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Grape: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Style: Off-Dry
• Vintage: 2024
• Closure: Screwcap
• Serve: 46–50°F
• Pairings: Thai green curry, Szechuan dishes, spicy tuna rolls, pork with apple sauce, honey-glazed ham, fruit tarts, almond pastries
• Size: 750ml

Jean-Marc et Romain Pastou — Sancerre Vieilles Vignes 2025

Domaine Pastou is a family estate rooted in Sury-en-Vaux, a quiet village nestled in the rolling hills of the northern Sancerre appellation. Jean-Marc Pastou began making wine under his own name in the early 1980s, planting his first vines — now the oldest on the estate — in that same year. Today his son Romain carries the torch, farming 12 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc across some of Sancerre’s finest sites, including multiple parcels in the prized lieu dit of Les Boucaults.

The Vieilles Vignes cuvée draws on the estate’s oldest vines, delivering the deeper concentration, mineral complexity, and textural richness that only age can bring. This is mineral-driven Sancerre at its most authentic — precise, elegant, and a perennial favorite for the value it delivers at its price point.

• Producer: Domaine Jean-Marc et Romain Pastou, Sury-en-Vaux, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Vineyard: 12 hectares including Les Boucaults lieu dit
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Mineral, citrus, white fruit, crisp acidity, elegant finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, goat cheese, asparagus, light seafood pasta

Old vines, great terroir, outstanding value — Pastou Sancerre is the kind of discovery that keeps customers coming back.

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.

Domaine Olivier Foucher | Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France | 2024

Olivier Foucher took over his family's 10.5-hectare estate in 2011 after studies in viticulture and oenology and years working alongside his parents. Le Chant du Silex — "The Song of the Flint" — takes its name from the estate's prized silex (flinty) soils, which impart a signature smoky, gunflint minerality and exceptional aging potential. The focus here is precision and tension: energetic, bright, and impeccably balanced rather than tropical or overworked.

Silver Medal, 2025 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon. Praised by 67 Wine's Bart Hopkins as "a classic mineral-driven Sancerre with excellent precision."

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Soils: Silex (flint)
Drink: Now–2030

Tasting Notes

• Delicate floral, lime zest, and tangerine on the nose
• White peach, pear, grapefruit, and subtle exotic fruit on the palate
• Full, mouth-puckering acidity | Smoky gunflint minerality | Long, precise finish

Pairings: Oysters, goat cheese, grilled fish, sushi, light poultry

Winemaker Description 

While not untrue, calling Cheverny a value alternative to Sancerre would completely overlook the virtues unique to this appellation. It is a much zippier expression of Sauvignon Blanc compared to its famous neighbor, more citrusy than grassy. When Kermit introduced this wine in July 1993, he said, “Salvard makes the most drinkable, quaffable Sauvignon Blanc I have ever tasted.”

Thierry and Emmanuel Delaille of Domaine du Salvard specialize in crisp, mouthwatering Sauvignon Blanc, but for this cuvée, they add a splash of Chardonnay, which brings complexity, flesh, and notes of Meyer lemon and orchard fruit. The base of Sauvignon Blanc, meanwhile, provides freshness and liveliness as well as its characteristic flavors of passion fruit and lime zest. The two grape varieties combine for outstanding versatility, such that this bottle will serve you well alongside all kinds of seasonal spring fare.
—Tom Wolf

Domaine Delobel Touraine Sauvignon Blanc “Angle Droit” — Loire Valley 2024

Domaine Delobel is one of the Loire Valley’s most exciting organic estates, founded in 2013 by Benjamin Delobel in Ouchamps, on the celebrated Oisly vineyard. Working with 10 hectares of certified-organic Sauvignon Blanc — planted from mass selections to preserve old-vine complexity — Benjamin crafts wines that are, as the name “Angle Droit” (Right Angle) suggests, straight, pure, and technically precise. For fans of Sauvignon Blanc who find New Zealand styles too loud and Sancerre too expensive, this wine hits the perfect middle ground. Manual harvests at dawn, slow pneumatic pressing, stainless steel fermentation, and aging on lees deliver a wine of exceptional freshness and mineral clarity.

The nose is lively and inviting: dried hay, field grass, sliced green apple, and crabapple aromas converge in a satisfying, savory frame. On the palate, the wine washes across wet river stone with tart acidity accented by white blossom — mineral-driven, focused, and refreshingly precise. The finish is clean and lingering.

Wine Enthusiast 90 — Reggie Solomon: “This lively wine refreshes the senses. The mineral-driven palate washes across wet river stone with tart acidity accented by white blossom.”

• Producer: Domaine Delobel, Ouchamps, Touraine, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Touraine AOC
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Farming: Certified Organic since 2013
• Vinification: Manual harvest, pneumatic press, stainless steel, aged on lees
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dried hay, green apple, crabapple, white blossom, wet river stone, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Goat cheese (Selles-sur-Cher, Crottin de Chavignol), oysters, fish ceviche, grilled sea bass, fresh asparagus

Pure, precise, and organically farmed — Domaine Delobel’s “Angle Droit” is the benchmark for honest, terroir-driven Touraine Sauvignon Blanc.

Domaine La Gemière · La Pointe · Ménetou-Salon · Loire Valley, France · 2024 · 750ml

The Millet family founded Domaine La Gemière in 1981 on the slopes of the Loire Valley, and since 2000 siblings Sébastien and Nicolas have carried the tradition forward with a profound respect for their 19-hectare estate. The “La Pointe” parcel sits on Ménetou-Salon’s famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils — the same ancient seabed geology that defines great Sancerre, just a few kilometers to the east. Ménetou-Salon is one of the Loire’s best-kept secrets: a small appellation producing Sauvignon Blanc of genuine mineral character and Sancerre-level quality at a fraction of the price. Grapes are pressed immediately after harvest, with juice flowing by gravity into tank, racked 48 hours later, and aged on lees for 8–9 months for added texture and complexity. 

Pale gold with a green tinge in the glass, with a pronounced, aromatic nose of gooseberry, fresh grass, ripe quince, and a clean mineral lift from the Kimmeridgian limestone. On the palate: crisp and refreshing, with flavors of melon, citrus, and white stone fruit, carried by bright acidity and a clean, mineral finish that lingers. The lees aging adds just enough texture to give the wine real presence without sacrificing freshness. Drink now through 2026. Pair with Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese, oysters on the half shell, grilled white fish, shrimp ceviche, or asparagus quiche.

• Producer: Domaine La Gemière · Millet Family (est. 1981)
• Wine: La Pointe · Ménetou-Salon AOC
• Vintage: 2024
• Origin: Ménetou-Salon, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Soils: Kimmeridgian limestone
• Aging: 8–9 months on lees · Gravity-flow winemaking
• Style: Crisp, mineral, aromatic Loire Sauvignon Blanc
• Drinking Window: Now–2026
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Gooseberry, fresh grass, quince, melon, citrus, white stone fruit, mineral finish
• Pair With: Crottin de Chavignol · Oysters · Grilled white fish · Shrimp ceviche · Asparagus quiche

Kimmeridgian limestone, Sancerre’s neighbor — Ménetou-Salon’s finest value in a glass.

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.

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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.

Winemaker Description

Produced from equal parts Pinot Noir and Grolleau, the fruit for this wine comes from Chidaine’s estate-grown, biodynamically farmed vineyards located just north of the Cher River between the villages of Montrichard and Chissay-en-Touraine.

The nose of gooseberries with floral notes is followed by a medium-full wine with a chalky texture. Excellent acidity and beautiful tension bring up the solid mineral core. Very refreshing but surprisingly complex — a perennial favorite where supply never meets demand.

Our Notes

A leader in the Loire Valley for organic and biodynamic wine production. This terrific rosé — 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Grolleau — is made from organically farmed estate fruit. Floral nose with hints of currants, excellent acidity, and a beautiful mineral core.

Bernie writes: My favorite rosé this summer. Pure fruit flavors that cleanse your palate with absolutely fresh feelings. This has to be one of the best Loire Rosés available this year! — 67 Wine

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.  

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).

Producer Description 

Refreshing persistence, resinous herbal notes on the nose and lovely fresh pear fruit, lime zest, grapefruit pith, and pineapple on the palate. 

The grapes for this basic cuvée of Sancerre are sourced from the vineyards in Bué, Vinon and Crézancy. After harvest, fermentation is done in stainless steel cuves at temperatures between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius. 

As with all the whites at the domaine, this wine sits in contact with the fine lies for a considerable period of time with the racking being done late in the spring following harvest. The first bottling occurs no earlier than July and frequently does not occur until September of the year following harvest.

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.

Jo Landron Amphibolite Muscadet Sèvre et Maine — Loire Valley 2025

Jo Landron has been farming the upper slopes of the Sèvre River near Nantes since 1990, and in that time he has quietly become one of the most important voices in French natural viticulture. His conversion to organic farming began in 1999, biodynamic certification followed in 2011, and the results are impossible to argue with. The Amphibolite — named for the metamorphic rock that defines its terroir — is the entry point to the Landron lineup and one of the most honest expressions of Melon de Bourgogne you will find at any price.

The 2025 is everything Muscadet should be: citrusy, saline, and alive. The nose is clean and precise — lemon zest, green apple, crushed oyster shell, and a faint floral lift. On the palate, the wine is lean and focused, with a bright, almost electric acidity and a long, mineral finish with that signature oceanic salinity Jo calls "free-spirited." Whole-bunch pressed, wild yeast fermented, aged six months on fine lees in glass-tiled concrete vats, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

"A wine best expressed in its youth — citrusy and sizzling with a lovely salinity on the finish." — Jo Landron

• Producer: Domaine de la Louvetrie, Jo Landron, Nantes, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
• Terroir: Metamorphic amphibolite (gabbro-derived rock)
• Varietal: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
• Farming: Certified Organic (EcoCert) & Biodynamic
• Vinification: Whole-bunch direct press, wild yeast fermentation, no chaptalization, no fining or filtration
• Aging: 6 months on fine lees in glass-tiled concrete vats
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, green apple, oyster shell, white flower, saline mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled sole, moules marinières, fresh chèvre, seafood crudo

The gold standard for high-energy oceanic white wine — Jo Landron's Amphibolite is Muscadet at its most alive.

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.

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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.
 

Château La Chevillardière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie — Loire Valley, France 2024

Château La Chevillardière is one of the Muscadet appellation's most respected estates, farming 88 hectares of Melon de Bourgogne vines on the granite and micaschist soils that define the finest terroirs of Sèvre et Maine. Claude-Michel Pichon took over from his father Raymond in 2009 and has steadily expanded the domaine, acquiring abandoned plots and planting new areas with a clear mission: to elevate Muscadet's reputation and showcase the genuine typicity that only this corner of the Loire can produce. Sur lie aging — resting on the spent yeast cells through the winter — adds texture and complexity while preserving the wine's essential freshness.

The 2024 pours a clear, pale yellow. The nose is delicate and precise — fresh grapes, white flowers, and elegant mineral tones that speak directly to the granite beneath the vines. On the palate, it's dynamic and focused, with a clear emphasis on freshness and aromatic clarity. The finish carries a distinctive saline quality — the hallmark of great Muscadet sur lie — that makes it one of the most food-friendly whites in the world.

"Our whites are characterized by fresh mineral notes and a real typicity — benefiting from a terroir of granite and micaschist." — Claude-Michel Pichon, Château La Chevillardière

• Producer: Château La Chevillardière, Sèvre et Maine, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie AOC
• Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne
• Terroir: Granite and micaschist
• Aging: Sur lie (on lees through winter)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Fresh grapes, white flowers, mineral, saline finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, mussels, grilled sole, shrimp, fresh goat cheese, light seafood dishes

A benchmark Muscadet sur lie from one of the appellation's most committed estates — mineral, saline, and the perfect companion to anything from the sea.

Producer Description 

A nectar from one end of the tasting to the other! An intensely golden adornment, a nose of perfectly over-ripe Chenin, underlined by great elegance, a note of almond cream, quince, very ripe peach skin.

The palate is very straight, freshness, tension and sweetness so well integrated, a finish of candy sugar crystals but also the fine bitterness of the schists, it is a very beautiful vintage, a wine built to last and already so pleasant to taste now. It is the cuvée representative of the estate's terroir, i.e. almost five vines.

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. 

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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.

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

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Kristen Bieler writes:  For a demi-sec, this leans toward the dry, savory end of the spectrum. There are a lot of layers and substance to this, with a savory thread of green herbs and bitter white tea weaving through elderflower, quince and apple flavors, while gentle tannins provide a solid frame. Cool river stone and pink peppercorn notes line the finish, encased in smoke and salt, with length and a lot of depth. The toasty cedar notes will integrate with more time in bottle. Drink now through 2037. 740 cases made.  - Wine Spectator 93

Stuart Pigott Writes:  This off-dry Vouvray has terrific depth and a lovely creaminess that’s hard to resist, but it’s tightly wound and needs some time for the aromas to unfurl. With some aeration, red apple and honeysuckle notes emerge. Long, very clean finish that’s pretty dry thanks to the bright acidity. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  The 2023 Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont boasts a residual sweetness (20g/l) that brings a sense of tenderness and amplitude to a terroir that's big on precision and tension. The flint component in the soil and the natural freshness of the 2023 vintage provide persistence and momentum. Pure and tender, there’s a distinctive spearmint-like cooling sensation on the long finish.  Drinking 2024 to 2038.  - Vinous 94

Winemaker Description 

Le Berceau de Fees" by Domaine Aux Moines is a lovely and juicy Chenin Blanc from young vineyards of famous Roche-aux-Moines grand cru. It opens on the nose to clean and straight aromas of fruit, flowers and aromatic herbs, surrounded by sharp saltiness. The sip is fresh and direct, animated by great acid shoulder and long mineral persistence. 

Lucien Crochet · Sancerre Rosé · Pinot Noir · Loire Valley · 2025

In Bué — one of Sancerre's most celebrated villages — the Crochet family has been growing Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc on Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian limestone for generations. Gilles Crochet, who trained at the legendary Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis before returning to the family estate in 1983, brings a Burgundian sensibility to everything he makes. His Sancerre Rosé is one of the appellation's finest: 100% Pinot Noir, hand-harvested (a rare practice in Sancerre), direct-pressed, and aged six months on fine lees in stainless steel. No shortcuts, no compromises — just the visceral salinity and mineral precision that Crochet's limestone terroir delivers vintage after vintage. At $34.99, this is Sancerre Rosé at its most serious and most rewarding.

Pale pink in the glass with a nose of stunning intensity: vineyard peach, white pepper, and a subtle spicy lift that opens with aeration into citrus zest and fresh orange. Frank on the attack, the palate is both juicy and crisp — indulgent peach fruit supported by lively citrus and a fine, freshness-driven balance. The finish is long and persistent, with a refreshing return of menthol and mineral salinity. Drink now through 2028.

“Vinous without being at all overbearing, it offers the visceral salinity of the domaine’s white wines alongside the red-fruited elegance of Pinot Noir from these distinctive soils.”
— Vinous

• Producer: Domaine Lucien Crochet
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Soils: Oxfordian & Kimmeridgian limestone · Bué, Sancerre
• Vinification: Hand harvested · Direct press · 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Vineyard peach, white pepper, citrus zest, orange, juicy palate, mineral salinity, menthol finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2028
• Food Pairings: Grilled salmon, tuna tartare, chèvre, summer vegetable tart, light charcuterie

Hand-harvested Pinot Noir, Kimmeridgian limestone, and six months on lees — Sancerre Rosé as it was meant to be made.

Oyster King · Melon de Bourgogne · Grand Vin de Loire · France · 2024

The name says it all. Oyster King is built for the table — specifically, for a cold platter of briny bivalves and a glass of something lean, mineral, and refreshing. Made from Melon de Bourgogne, the grape of Muscadet, this Loire Valley white is the archetype of the oyster wine: soft, light, and driven by a saline minerality that makes it one of the most food-friendly whites at any price point. The 2024 vintage delivers exactly what the grape promises — no more, no less — with the kind of honest, unpretentious character that keeps you reaching for the bottle.

This exceptional wine, crafted by renowned winemaker Jean Luc Olivier, is grown and produced in the Loire Valley’s estuary, where the majestic river descends from the mountains and meets the Atlantic Ocean.

This traditional grape is grown on Kimmeridgian soil, a limestone-based loam; its clay is calcareous, and its limestone has developed from the accumulation of both oyster and sea shells over millions of years. This magic terroir gives the wines their vibrancy and minerality.

Pale straw in the glass with a clean, inviting nose of green pear, lemon zest, and honeydew melon. On the palate, lean bright acidity and a subtle mineral thread carry through to a clean, refreshing finish. Light-bodied and precise, it is the kind of wine that disappears effortlessly alongside seafood, shellfish, or a simple summer meal.

• Producer: Oyster King
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Grand Vin de Loire, France
• Varietal: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
• Style: Dry white — light, mineral, crisp
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Green pear, lemon zest, honeydew melon, saline minerality, clean finish
• Pairings: Oysters, clams, mussels, grilled fish, seafood platters, light salads

Grand Vin de Loire — the quintessential oyster wine. Lean, mineral, and made for the table.

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.

95 Points Wine Spectator | This voluptuous, full-bodied, off-dry white shows a lot of power, offering round pear, mango and honeycomb flavors that take a salty turn on the palate, with brine, crushed flint and bitter almond skin, backed by a subtle hint of brioche on the finish. Opening up in the glass, this gorgeous wine offers loads of immediate charm, but should have a long life ahead in the cellar as well.

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.