From Chinon, Pouilly-Fumé and Côteaux-du-Vendômois, get in touch with a selection of wines from the Loire Valley

Not far from from Paris, with a reasonable distance about 200 km, in the south-east of the Paris basin, the Pouilly-Fumé production area is located around the generous hills close to the Loire river. Also baptized the “river of the Kings” greatly influences this local mild climate dedicated to only one grape variety, baptized Sauvignon blanc. A specific taste that distinguishes Pouilly-Fumé from the sister appellation of Pouilly-sur-Loire, since this Pouilly-Fumé appellation is exclusively marked with white wines that are distinguished by various characteristic flinty aromas. A rich sensation of lively minerality and fruity citrus notes, especially if you remind that the main part of these Pouilly-Fumé wines need to be appreciated in their youth. However some vintages have a strong aging potential, and we encourage you to explore them in the quality selection of the products offered by the Château de Tracy, the Domaine Didier Dagueneau or the Domaine Michel Redde et Fils.

In a way, that’s a logical fact for this terroir steeped in history, since it’s perhaps one of the oldest French vintages with apparently first historical traces visible already back in the 5th century. Thus, in the Middle Ages, the local Benedictines promoted the benefits of this fine wine, but it was at the end of the 18th century that a real commercial success began, supported by its ability to match with many dishes of French gastronomy (photo credits: Pouilly-Fumé).

In the heart of Bouchot, an old Pouillyssois wine-growing village, Gilles Chollet took over from his father in 1986. Joined by his son Séverin in 2010, this Domaine Chollet cultivates nowadays a vineyard covering 11.5 ha. Pursuing the Chollet family adventure initiated by Roland Chollet and his wife Simone, who started from nothing, their own domain to produce their premium wine range in Pouilly-sur-Loire, in the Nièvre department (photo credits: Domaine Chollet).

For information, from the Chasselas grape variety, these fresh wines from Pouilly-sur-Loire perfectly match with any kind of occasion. Made from the authentic Sauvignon grape, this dry and fruity white wine of Pouilly Fumé produced there, is muchly regarded generous. Restoring the inimitable taste of the Pouilly terroir, thanks to its regular and explicit aromas of citrus and exotic fruits, all melt into a typical minerality!

As far as we know, it is in Pouilly-sur-Loire that the Sauvignon grape variety develops as much as possible this unparalleled complexity and aromatic palette, leading to a first nectar appearing in 1960, in Bouchot for the Chollet family. Produced with the greatest respect for their ancestral terroir, it succeeded to obtain no less than 15 medals (5 Gold, 10 Silver, 5 Bronze) at the Concours Général de Paris and Macon, in about 20 years.

Then in 1980, Gilles Chollet acquired new vines and extended the wine estate, by perpetuating this family spirit, covering nowadays approximately 12 and a half hectares over 2 municipalities and for an annual production of nearly 800 hectoliters of wine. Still granted here by the illustrious Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée and since 1937, let’s get into their range of white wines from the Nièvre, all in perfect harmony with their native vines, while promoting sustainable practices that respect soils, the balance of the plants and above all their surrounding environment.

This is naturally why their vineyard has been certified High Environmental Value (HVE3) in 2020, orienting towards a certain responsible and organic farming. By the way, one of the peculiarities of their estate is to vinify their terroirs separately, still in the respect of the inner characteristics of their juices plus their various tasting assets. Indeed, their vinification is operated in a similar way, as naturally as possible, and in identical containers.

It’s not a mystery that for more than 60 years, this Domaine Chollet has succeeded to develop of the most famous wines of the Loire Valley, with the support of 3 main types of terroir and soils, those are argilo-siliceous (the siliceous clay that initiates early and gourmet wines, ready to be tasted early), clay-limestone (Caillottes, which gives birth to fresh and fruity cuvées) and Kimmeridgian Marls (Terres Blanches, memories of some fossilized Jurassic shells, which generate intense flavors of exotic fruits, a beautiful minerality and even a superb structure).

“Be in harmony with your vines and promote practices that respect the life of the soil, the balance of the plant and the environment. Organic farming is the key. Developping a wine is a nice way to be creative, respectful of the environment, only in the generosity of the aromas of the cuvées which will nourish convivial moments of tasting. By letting the terroir express itself as naturally as possible, we maintain the reputation of creating the best Sauvignon in the world.” admits Séverin Chollet.

At first sight, let’s start with the tasting of AOP Pouilly Fumé Tradition 2020 cuvée , which may be easily regarded as a loyal illustration of the expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Cautiously fed with organic fertilizers, those pulpy grapes (of average age of 35 years) are then mechanically harvested on their native clay-limestone and siliceous subsoils, essentially starring marl with small oysters, limestone from Villiers and sands from the nearby Loire river. Thus, this framework offers some minerality and a vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, before an aging between 3 to 5 months on fine lees, supported a with regular stirring. Once you open this flacon, enjoy its brilliant golden robe, displaying its fragrance of fresh citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon), completed with a mineral and exotic touch. Then, admire the frank sensation developing inside your palate, sharing generous and fresh aromas of grapefruit with a peppery touch.

We recommend to store this wine 4 years and offer it within a serving temperature between 11 and 13°C, as an aperitif or to accompany any kind of seafood dishes or a goat cheese platter.