For some unknown reason, most of our recent tastings with vendors have focused on French wines and, in particular, wines from the Loire Valley. I, for one, can’t complain because I love the wines from this important wine growing region, home to hundreds of appellations, producing a variety of wines that is unmatched anywhere else in France. One of the many wines I’ve recently liked is right up my power alley; a beautifully balanced white wine with tremendous verve, pronounced bouquet and succulent fruit. The wine I’m speaking of is the 2023 Isabelle et Pierre Clément Menetou-Salon, produced at Domaine de Chantenoy. Located in the rolling, green hills west of Sancerre, this highly-regarded estate 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 with organic certification in mind. 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 organically 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 great…and GREAT, it is. The 2020 Classique cuvee is a fantastic expression of Sauvignon Blanc, with an enticing and varied bouquet of tropical fruits, crushed minerals and fresh green herbs. The palate offers a seamless expansion of succulent flavors that are held in check by lively, well-integrated acidity. It’s really quite delicious on its own but with the right food, it is truly magical. The right food being any of the recipes found on the winery website. It appears that the Clément Family eats as well as they drink. Go to: https://www.clement-chatenoy.com/en/recettes/ 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 truckload.- Frank Rothstein