Winemaker Notes
Revealing the soul of a unique grape variety, the Le Mont Demi-Sec vibrates and resonates in the mouth, the natural sugar and acidity of Chenin blend harmoniously. Airy and complex, it is appreciated young but also reveals itself gradually to those who know how to wait.
Blend: 100% Chenin Blanc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This mature, sweet Vouvray has dense mandarin orange and dried apricot aromas plus a rich and succulent palate, but there’s nothing massive or heavy about it. Stacks of caramel flavor, yet so bright and animating. Very long, elegant finish. From biodynamically grown grapes.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
More mineral and slightly chalkier than its counterparts, the 2023 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec opens with a somewhat reserved bouquet that gradually reveals aromas of ripe Anjou pear, white fruits, spring blossoms and subtle spices. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it is impeccably balanced, with a vibrant, energetic mid-palate delicately framed by a touch of gastronomic bitterness. Its telluric, firmly grounded profile calls for patience—this is a wine that will reward time in the cellar. Rating: 94+
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Vinous
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.
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Wine Spectator
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.
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.
Stretching east along the steep banks of the Loire River, Touraine is a major part of the Middle Loire. Soil variations of clay, sand, tuffeau and gravel throughout its subregions support both white and red varieties. Chinon and Bourgueil remain the source of Loire’s finest Cabernet Franc; various styles of the most outstanding Chenin blanc come from Vouvray and Montlouis.