Vignerons de Valençay, Sauvignon VdP du Val de Loire France

Alongside running his own, eponymous family estate in Valençay, winemaker Sébastien Vaillant has joined forces with his friend Damien Boisseur to form the Vignerons de Valençay cooperative. With just Sébastien and Damien as members, this is the smallest co-op in the Loire, perhaps even France. Valençay has held official AOC status since the 2002 vintage. It was the first French region to receive AOC classification for both wine and cheese, with its distinctive pyramid-shaped goat’s cheese pairing perfectly with Valençay white wines. Vignerons de Valençay comprises 40 hectares of vines planted on the hillsides surrounding the Cher River, with a good proportion of silex (flint) soils. Silex is greatly prized within the Loire and produces some of the region's finest, and most mineral, wines. The 100% Sauvignon Blanc ‘VdP du Val de Loire’ offers unrivalled value. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel, it is a fruit-forward, bright and zippy expression designed to be drunk while young and fresh. This tiny co-operative has 40 hectares of vineyards in total. The Sauvignon Blanc vines for this wine are located on the flint and clay soils of the Loire Valley, in the Valençay area. The flint in particular imparts the characteristic mineral quality on the wine, while patches of sandy and limestone topsoils over very stony and clay subsoils add richness and depth. The grapes were picked at night at very low temperatures and transferred to the winery as quickly as possible to minimise damage to the aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were pressed gently in a pneumatic press, followed by a cool, slow fermentation in temperature-controlled vats to maximise perfume and fruit character. Only stainless steel was used. The wine was released when young and fresh with no oak or oxidative influence. Light lemon yellow in colour, with aromas of citrus, gooseberry and white peach on the nose. On the palate there is an attractive depth of flavour, with notes of lemon, green apple and white peach offset by a charming mineral tone throughout. A crisp acidity carries the wine to a refreshing and elegant finish. ABV 13%