Cheverny (White) 2020

his wine is 80-85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15-20% Menu Pineau (Orbois). Light and refreshing, with a hint of typical Sancerre notes and acidity, but supported by a fuller body and overall roundness on the palate. Underripe stone fruit and candied citrus, with just a touch of something “je ne sais quoi”– which is the Orbois. Easy to drink, but still a small surprise on the palate.

Domaine de Veilloux is a small estate in a quiet part to the Loire Valley near Cheverny. It has been a family owned the estate since the French Revolution, and was taken over by Michel and Sylviane Quenioux in1994. Michel, a firm believer in the health and environmental benefits of organic and biodynamic farming, implemented these practices from the start and obtained their certification in 1998. The domaine now includes just over 25 hectares, all of which are grown using sustainable, organic methods. The domaine has 3.5 hectares of Orbois (Menu Pineau), which may be the largest single planting in the world of this rare grape. Michel makes three cuvées which blend varying percentages of Orbois with Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has the lowest percentage of Orbois around one-fifth.

Vinification: Orbois from clay-loam soils and Sauvignon Blanc from clay-silex. Grapes are hand harvested and each variety is vinified separately in stainless steel vats and stays on the lees for 6 months. The two wines are then blended and bottled with a light filtration.

Match it with: Poached fish or raw shellfish