Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Delicate notes of honey and a touch of butter, along with a hint of wood within a vibrant texture. The long, elegant finish is currently a little closed, so needs more time or should be decanted before drinking. The southeast-facing Rouères parcel is 2.98ha and was planted between 1979 and 1985 in loamy clays over puddingstone. The parcel was picked on 14 September with a yield of 25 hl/ha. Fermented and aged in demi-muids and barriques averaging five years old for 14 months and bottled in November 2021.
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Vinous
The 2020 Rouères is a sweet wine but not unctuous; it has a sense of freshness and a bitter twist, providing a clean, long finish despite its 150-odd g/L of residual sugar. It is almost tart and offers an herbal, aperitif-like character, combining celery, marmalade, toffee and smoke notes. It's already approachable, but its structural tension and sweetness point to longevity if you wait. (10% alcohol). Quite frankly, it's a triumph this was even made after rains wiped Les Quarts parcel out. It might not be typical Quarts de Chaume - neither as rich nor luscious - hence why they've decided to label it as a Coteaux du Layon even though they could legally have still called it Quarts de Chaume, displaying the integrity of this producer.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Known for its delightful whites and sparkling Pétillant and Mousseux, made predominantly of Chenin blanc, Anjou has a temperate and dry maritime climate. The region's limited temperature variations are admiringly referred to locally as the “douceur angevine,” or “Anjou sweetness.” Fruit forward rosé and red wines from Cabernet Franc and Gamay merit Anjou its success within the Loire subregions.