2015 Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis sec Touche Mitaine, Loire Valley

100% Chenin blanc, hand-picked in successive tries from 4ha of vines averaging 35 years old and planted at 6500 vines/ha. Produced from low yields of just 48hl/ha and cool-fermented in stainless steel, followed by a 7 month elevage in 75% old oak and 25% stainless steel. Certified organic viticulture.

'From a 3.5-hectare parcel of Chenin Blanc vines. This was vinified in 220-litre barrels, all old oak. It starts with a salty fresh nose, with some lightly dried citrus fruits. The palate is fresh, but with evident fruit confidence, especially mirabelle plum, laced with a lightly sherbetty minerality. The overall feel is cool, the delicately salted fruits cut with a fine acid backbone. A nicely defined and challenging substance, certainly bitter, on the finish. Very nicely composed. Well done.' 

‘The 2015 Montlouis “Touche-Mitaine” from Le Rocher des Violettes is a Sec bottling, though there is no mention of this on the label. The wine is young and promising, offering up scents of quince, lanolin, a bit of chalk dust, dried flowers and citrus peel in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and very nicely balanced, with a fine core, bright acids and lovely soil signature on the backend. The finish is long and focused, but also still quite primary, and more complexity will emerge here with extended bottle age. Fine juice. 2016-2030+..’