About this WINE
Domaine des Forges
Third generation Claude and his son, Stéphane Branchereau at Domaine des Forges, aim to make sweet Chenin Blancs that are rich, pure and quivering with energy. This they manage not only because of their enormous talent but also thanks to steep, schistous slopes, fastidious vineyard work, harvesting by tri, low yields (rarely above 25 hectolitres per hectare) and vinifying the wines parcel by parcel.
Such is the concentration and freshness of fruit obtained in their wines, that they cope easily with up to 50% new oak, albeit in large 450 litre barrels. 'Quelle réussite!', as they would say.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is an important white grape variety planted in the Anjou-Saumur and Touraine regions of the Loire Valley and the most widely planted varietal grape in South Africa.
In the Loire it produces high quality dry wines in Savenniéres, and luscious sweet, dessert wines in Coteaux du Layon, Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume. In Vouvray and Montlouis it can be dry, medium dry, or sweet, and still or sparkling. Whether dry or sweet, the best Loire Chenin Blancs possess marvellously concentrated rich, honeyed fruit together with refreshingly vibrant acidity. It is Chenin Blanc's high acidity that enable the wines to age so well.
In South Africa Chenin Blanc is easier to grow and is prized for its versatility. It is used as a cheap blending option with Chardonnay, Colombard, and Muscat but also bottled unblended. The best producers keep their yields low and produce impressive mouthfilling wines.
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Description
The Coteaux du Layon, in the west of the Loire, deeply rooted in ancient schistous rock soils and home to the noble Chenin Blanc grape, remains one of the world’s classic sweet wine styles. Stephane Branchereau’s family are past-masters; experts are harvesting the botrytic, barley-sugar like fruit, whose condition has been brought on by the rising fogs of the Layon tributary, compounded by the damp Atlantic Ocean air currents flowing in from the Pay Nantais coastline. It’s pure ‘tarte tatin’, the soft, fleshy, apple core flavours so engaging and so delicious.
David Berry Green, Loire Wine Buyer
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