Domaine de la Bergerie - 'Sous la Tonnelle' - Chenin Blanc - Anjou, Loire Valley, FR - 2023

Satellite's Hot Take

An outstanding representation of the Loire and its greatest grape - Chenin blanc - mineral and tensely fruited - exceptional with most dishes. I love this stuff

Notes from the Winery/Importer

"Sous la tonnelle" is a "wine of the year", to be drunk immediately! It accompanies each of your moments with pleasure and spontaneity.

Grape variety
100% Chenin
Terroir
Locations: “La Bergerie” – Champ-sur-Layon & “la Girardière” – Rablay-sur-Layon
The only one of our white wines made from a blend of plots.
Soil: Clay – schist & Gravel

Winemaking
Slow pressing and light settling.
Fermentation (using indigenous yeasts) and ageing take place in vats for 6 months.
Bottling takes place in the spring following the harvest.

Tasting notes
The “Sous la tonnelle” cuvée has all the freshness and liveliness of the grapes just pressed during the harvest. Carried by notes of yellow fruit, it is light and straightforward. When it comes to tasting, there’s always a good reason to open a bottle of “Sous la tonnelle”! A simple aperitif, or to accompany fresh goat’s cheese with a few candied lemon peels, for example.

Our advice
We recommend a serving temperature of 12°C. It can be enjoyed now or over the next two years.

Notes on the Producer

A Loire vineyard, our Domaine is located in the Anjou region, at the eastern end of the Armorican Massif.
The estate is located in the heart of Anjou Noir. The region is so named for its dark soils, mostly composed of schist bedrock. There’s also sandstone, poudingues, clay… and many other geological nuances. The 27 hectares that make up our vineyard benefit from and are enriched by this diversity. They are also exposed to a mild oceanic influence. This unique terroir allows us to explore all the facets of the estate’s grape varieties, such as Chenin, Cabernet franc and Pineau d’Aunis. To preserve and enhance the soils and diversity of the site, the estate has been certified organic since 2016. The history of the Guégniard family has been written on this land for several generations…
Our vineyard has been certified Organic since the 2016 vintage.
Because quality is our watchword, we strive to maintain consistency in the excellence of our wines. To achieve this, we devote a great deal of time to the vines, in order to harvest quality raw materials. As winemakers committed to sustainable viticulture, we are guided in our choices by common sense and observation. Depending on the nature of the soil, we either grass or cultivate it superficially. Throughout the year, work is carried out with a view to the coming harvest (respectful pruning, disbudding, thinning, severe selection during the harvest…) and is adapted to each vintage. In the cellar, we accompany our wines with care and simplicity. We adapt our breeding methods to our “juices”, respecting their land of origin and their identity. Each plot is vinified and aged separately to preserve the authenticity and expression of the terroir. The choice of blends is made on the basis of a few cuvées.