Dom Beausejour Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 21

The Loire Valley is known as the "garden of France" and was traditionally the location of choice for the royal residences of French aristocrats. It's one oldest and most prominent wine-growing regions in France, and the sub-region of Touraine is where you'll find Domaine Beauséjour. The Domain's owner, Philippe Trotignon, is considered one of the top vignerons in the Touraine, and he operates the estate in complete harmony with tradition and nature. When questioned about the guiding principles behind his winemaking methodology, he responds, "Wine is the blood of the earth" -- undoubtedly the response of a vigneron who is one with his terroir!.

The vineyards of the Domaine are ideal for cultivating Sauvignon Blanc, and the vines are planted in the deep sandy soils in the village of Noyers-sur-Cher and the heavier soils in the neighboring village of St.-Romain. In blending the harvest from the two villages, fruit from Noyers-sur-Cher provides a superb level of freshness, and the terroir of St.-Romain provides intense aromatics and magnificent depth.

Philippe practices lutte raisonnée viticulture, certified by Terra Vitis, and works diligently in the vineyard to produce and ripen healthy, fully-developed grapes. Native wild grasses grow between the vines, reducing the amount of soil erosion that occurs, preventing the growth of weeds, and eliminating the need for pesticides.

In the winery, fermentation is entirely in stainless steel, and the wines are left to rest on their lees while undergoing occasional battonage -- gentle stirring that produces extra complexity and nuance while significantly lowering the amount of sulfur required.

This gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc comes to us from our friend, Asheville importer Jean-Philippe Bourgeois, making it another genuinely local-global entity. As I've often opined, I love the way Philippe turns a phrase with his tasting notes and wine descriptions, so this is his take on Domaine Beausejour Les Grenettes Sauvignon Blanc:

Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Aging: 5 to 8 months in stainless steel tanks, on its lees
Closer to Sancerre than your average Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, it's clear from the start this is a remarkable wine. Even a slight swirl of the glass releases delicate lily, boxwood, and honeysuckle botanical notes that complement peach and lychee, not just the far more common one-note grapefruit. A deeper breath reveals all the subtleties of the grapes. Its velvety texture is shot through with well-integrated yet bracing acidity and a snap of chalky minerality that keep the wine both lively and supple. A round, full finish lingers long enough to reprise the nose's floral aspects that serve as a foil to the luscious golden stone fruit. A natural pairing with moules marinières, a chèvre and herb omelet, or heartier salads, but equally delicious on its own.