2018 Domaine des Sablonnettes Fleur d'Erables Moelleux

WINEMAKER: Christine, Joel & Jeremy Menard
VARIETAL: Chenin Blanc
REGION: Loire Valley, FR
VITICULTURE: Certified Biodynamic

25 - 30 year old vines of Chenin Blanc grown on schist. Harvested at 15-16% potential alcohol, 70 grams residual sugar. These grapes are harvested from several parcels in Rablay that are showing the beginning signs of Botrytis. Vinified in tank and bottled in the spring with a dose of 40mg/liter of sulfur to prevent refermenation in bottle.

Christine and Joel Menard have been making wine in the heart of the Coteaux du Layon AOC for more than twenty years. Over the past few vintages they have welcomed their son Jeremy into the domaine to take care of the winemaking and the cellar. While the appellation is known for its sweet wines, Domaine des Sablonnettes have slowly cemented themselves over the years as a key producer of some of the most expressive and interesting dry wines in the AOC today. They are seen by many as the secret superstars of the region. They lovingly tend to their 13 hectares of vines, which have been managed and certified by biodynamic methods since 2007. Healthy soils and balance in their ecosystem has always been at the heart of their winemaking.