Region: Loire Valley, France

Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Tasting notes: If only every Sauvignon Blanc could taste like this! Nothing grassy or tropical about this little number from the eastern part of the Loire’s Touraine region. Instead, picture lime blossoms delivered via a lightning bolt of minerally refreshment, with more zippy citrus and blossoming flowers leaving your palate cleansed and utterly charmed.

Producer: Domaine du Salvard has been a working domaine since 1898, through five hardworking generations of the Delaille family. Today, all forty-two hectares of vineyards are farmed by the capable brother team of Emmanuel and Thierry Delaille, with help from their father Gilbert. To our delight, they have carried on the traditions established by their ancestors, producing a true, classic Cheverny that is both simple and elegant. The Delaille brothers have focused their attention on growing fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc, deeply rooted in the sand, clay, and limestone plains of northeastern Touraine. Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cot constitute their red grape holdings, creating youthful reds with great aromatics.

Vineyard and Winemaking: The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away? The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.  This white wine comes from 22 year old vines planted in clay and sand soils. Fermented in steel tanks and bottled unoaked. Excellent with raw seafood or paired with aged goat cheese.