Canon Thomas

9.5

Begs for food! Vibrant and dry. Love it. — 15 days ago

Monica Sawhney

9.0

Juicy and a little sweet — 16 days ago

Andrew Lohse

9.1

Red fruit, white pepper, dried herbs — a month ago

Alex Gualino

9.0

TOURAINE CHENONCEAUX
Appellation Touraine Protégé
La Bruyère - Récolte 2016

The vineyards of AOC Touraine-Chenonceaux, which include 27 municipalities, extend over a reduced area on both banks of the Cher River and are an integral part of the Loire Valley, one of the 7 European vineyards listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also one of the Loire's most recently established appellations in the large AOC Touraine family.

Established in 2016, the AOC Touraine-Chenonceaux is named after the famous Château de Chenonceau spanning the Cher RIver. Domaine La Bruyère's 20 hectares are located on the secondary valleys of Loir-et-Cher; an array of hillside plots grounded on clay-limestone-siliceous soils mixed with a layer of flint (known as Perruches), which take advantage of the micro-climate of the Cher Valley by showing good complexity and stylistically sitting between Sancerre and Brouilly.

Pierre Chainier source classic Loire varietal wines, as well as owning some excellent properties throughout the region. For both elements of their wine business, they look to principles of agriculture raisonné alongside the most modern wine-making techniques. Within Touraine, they have significant vineyard holdings and 7 domaines, including Domaine de La Bruyère in this newly established appellation of Touraine-Chenonceaux. Conversely, Clos de Nouys, their 25 acre estate, is one of the oldest in the AOC Vouvray. Here vines average 35 years of age and Clos de Nouys' parcels of vines were already listed among the best sites on geological maps dating from 1907.

Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes (they also grow Sauvignon Rose), their Touraine-Chenonceaux Blanc is the result of a rigorous selection process, both of parcels at harvest and of particular cuvées. Vines are cultivated following the principles of sustainable agriculture. The final wine rests on lees for six months before bottling. With its clear robe of golden hues, fresh and round on the palate, this white wine reveals aromas of citrus with notes of white, buttery flowers. An intense citrus nose: candied lemon and orange, developing into apricot and lime, about to turn into brioches. Beautifully fresh and vibrant, once chilled, it will perfectly partner with white meat dishes, fish and seafood (including Sushi) or goat cheese. Or depart from traditional Sauvignon pairings and try with exotic and intense flavors, such as Tagines or Indian Curries. — 3 months ago

with Mark

Meredith Hu

9.3

Lime, green apple, Marcona almond, walnut skin, apricot, apricot skin, cherry, cheeserind, savory herbs on the palate. Acetaldehyde. Medium+ acid, 13.5%. Beautiful Savagnin. — 11 days ago

Aaron Forel

9.0

I totally agree with all previous ratings, this wine is a solid 9.. A perfect blend of grapes that creates wonderful Languedoc. — 25 days ago

Neal Ferry

9.1

Spectacular in every sense — 2 months ago

Joseph Lewinski

9.0

Light bright great Trousseau! — 2 months ago

with Ginny

Charles Rosenfeld

9.1

First tasted several months ago and enjoyed. Bought for 2019 Thanksgiving as the white wine. Moderately dry with floral but not sweet taste that complimented the turkey well. Still believe it’s a great Chenin blanc to have in your cooler. — 6 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have been staring down this bottle for awhile...guess tonight is the night.

Bright, candied red florals leap out of the glass followed quickly by sweet & sour cherries. Smooth, medium spice, cinnamon stick, cola, ripe, elegant, blackberries, poached to candied strawberries, stewy black plum, creamed black raspberries, pomegranate, haunting blueberries fruits, steeped fruit tea, truffle dark chocolate, tobacco notes with ash, dark, rich, moist earth, understated incense, beautifully layered, dark spices, almost black pepper, limestone alluvial earthiness, dry stems & stones with the most amazingly, bright, fragrant; dark, red, blue, purple floral wrapped in violets.

The body is round, gorgeously sexy and elegantly full. It sings on the palate. This is a good time to try a bottle if you have others as this wine will continue to improve over the next 15 years. If you love a well textured wine, this is one for you. The structure, tension, length and balance have just started down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. Candied red florals leap out of the glass followed quickly by sweet & sour cherries. Smooth, medium spice, big cinnamon stick, cola, ripe, elegant, blackberries, poached to candied strawberries, stewy black plum, creamed black raspberries, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, haunting blueberries fruits, steeped fruit tea, tobacco notes with ash, dark, rich, moist earth, understated incense, beautifully layered, deep penetrating dark spices with pronounced palate heat, lightly grilled meats, hints of smokiness, almost black pepper, limestone alluvial earthiness, dry stems & stones with the most amazingly, bright, fragrant; dark, red, blue, purple floral wrapped in violets & understated lavender. The acidity is spot on. The finish is complex, well balanced, ruby polished that falls into spice, florals for days and persists endlessly on your palate and in your head long after the night is over. Gorgeous wine!!!

I am all about pairing food & wine & confident there are foods that would enhance this wine; Duck, Pork Loin w/ fruit or lightly seasoned roasted chicken etc. but, I would be a purest with this bottling. It’s simply that beautiful & gorgeous on its own.

Photos of; Domaine Faiveley, their barrel aging room, Erwan Faiveley and immaculately manicured Nuits St. Georges vineyard.

Producer notes: Domaine Faiveley is one of the biggest Domaines at 115 hectares in Burgundy and some would say, one of the best. Domaine Faiveley grapes are destemmed and fermented in new wooden vats for the finer wines and in conical stainless steel tanks for the lesser cuvées
— 7 days ago