1996 Bonnézeaux, La Montagne, Domaine du Petit Val
Critics reviews
Pierre Rovani - 31/10/1997
About this WINE
Domaine du Petit Val
The vines of Domaine du Petit Val are divided over the towns of Chavagnes and Thouarcé, in the heart of the country Coteaux du Layon.
The estate was created in 1950 by Vincent Goizil with 4.5 hectares of vineyards, of which 1.3 appellation Bonnezeaux. The passage of time has seen the acquisition of new land, and in 1988, the year when Denis and Janine took over from its predecessor, the property covered 18 acres. Today it has 45, of which 19 is devoted to Chenin Blanc.
Bonnezeaux
Bonnezeaux is a famous sweet Chenin Blanc appellation within the greater Coteaux du Layon region. The grapes are grown on ancient schistous rock vineyards on the steep banks of the Layon, a tributary of the Loire, and are affected by botrytis cinerea/noble rot (as per Sauternes and Barsac) to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the year.
The grapes are hand-harvested by trie and aged in French Barriques to give intense, complex honeyed wines that are rich in residual sugar and with approximately 14 percent alcohol. The best of these are capable of ageing for 10 to 20 years.
Domaine du Petit Val is a good producer.
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 fabulous Bonnezeaux La Montagne (Petit Val's top Bonnezeaux and the only one I tasted) reveals mineral, metal and herbal tea aromas as well as a highly powerful and structured character with delineated flavors of quince, citrus fruits and earth. This extremely refined wine exhibits outstanding concentration of ripe sweet fruits as well as a magnificent lemony acidity. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2015.
Pierre Rovani - 31/10/1997
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