2021 Les Quatre Piliers Grande Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc Bel Air, Loire Valley

The second vintage of this rendition, the 2021 Bel Air wafts from the glass with aromas of herbs, sage, rosemary and honey. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and powerfu, yet saline and elegant, it’s more austere than the 2024, a reflection of the frost- and mildew-affected vintage.

92 points Yohan Castaing robertparker.com

Les Quatre Piliers Grande Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc Bel Air is a beautifully lifted and mineral charged Loire Valley white, crafted from hillside vineyards where Sauvignon Blanc thrives on chalky, limestone rich soils. The Bel Air site lies on cool, gently sloping terrain that captures morning sun while protecting the fruit from excessive heat, allowing slow ripening and remarkable aromatic clarity. The winemaking is deliberately restrained: hand harvesting for precision, gentle pressing, cool stainless steel fermentation to lock in freshness, and a short period on fine lees to build quiet texture without softening the wine’s crisp structural line. The result is a cuvée that combines Loire purity with just enough depth to make it compelling at the table.

The bouquet is elegantly expressive. Lime zest, white grapefruit and fresh pear emerge first, followed by crushed gooseberry, green apple and subtle notes of mandarin leaf. Beneath the fruit sits a pristine mineral core echoing chalk dust, wet stone and a faint saline whisper from the region’s ancient marine beds. Hints of elderflower, fennel frond and a cool herbal nuance unfold with air, keeping the aromatics lively and precise.

The palate is sleek, vibrant and finely balanced. Citrus and orchard fruit glide across a lightly silky mid palate shaped by lees contact, then tighten into a long, stony, beautifully defined finish. Flavours of lemon pith, pear skin, green melon and soft tropical lift are polished by mouthwatering acidity that carries mineral freshness from start to end. The finish lingers dry and chalky with a clean, refreshing echo that feels unmistakably Loire. It drinks beautifully young but can develop savoury detail and more weight over two to four years.

Brilliant with goat cheese, oysters, sushi, grilled asparagus, herbed chicken, summer salads, and anything kissed by citrus or fresh herbs. A Loire Sauvignon Blanc that excels in clarity, mineral structure and sheer drinkability.