It’s no secret that I love the wines from the Loire Valley, home to hundreds of appellations, producing a variety of wines that are unmatched anywhere else in France.  One of my recent favorites is a beautifully balanced white wine with tremendous verve, pronounced bouquet and succulent fruit.  The wine I’m speaking of is the 2022 Isabelle et Pierre Clément Menetou-Salon Clos des Treilles.  Located in the rolling, green hills west of Sancerre, the highly-regarded estate, Domaine de Chantenoy, has been in the Clément family for generations, centuries in fact.  It was great-grand-pére who built the gorgeous home where the family still resides.  The modern estate really got going in 1984 when Pierre Clément met local schoolteacher Isabelle, now his wife, and the two of them began to expand and modernize the property.  Starting with only 10 hectares, the estate now encompasses 60 hectares of vines, spread out over several communes, all being farmed organically.  The next generation is already involved as Anne and Pierre-Alexandre, two of Pierre and Isabelle’s three children, also work at the domaine, allowing mom and dad to relax just a bit after 38 harvests at the estate.
 
The list of attributes that go into the production of their white wines (Sauvignon Blanc) and reds (Pinot Noir) reads like a manual entitled How To Make Great Wine.  Low yielding old vines, planted at high density in the Kimmerigian soil of the region (the same chalky limestone as in Chablis), grown in the Continental climate of north-central France and subject to varied local micro-climates, the grapes are carefully sorted after harvest, pressed gently in a pneumatic press, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks and aged on the lees.  With all this going on, how could the wine not be delicious…and DELICIOUS, it is.  The 2022 Clos des Treilles, sourced from a single-plot of old-vines (40+ years), is a fantastic expression of Sauvignon Blanc, with an enticing and varied bouquet of tropical fruits, crushed minerals and subtle hints of citrus.  The palate offers a seamless expansion of delicate flavors that are balanced by lively, well-integrated acidity. It’s really quite delicious on its own but with the right food, it is truly magical.  Please let us know if you’re interested and we’ll ship your order of six bottles or more with shipping included.  If I were you, I’d order the Clément Menetou-Salon by the boatload.