2017 Alexandre Monmousseau Clos le Vigneau Vouvray

2017 Alexandre Monmousseau Clos le Vigneau Vouvray


Vintage: 2017
Region: Loire Valley, France (Vouvray AOC)
Winery: Alexandre Monmousseau
Varieties: Chenin Blanc
Price: $13 (at Costco)
Rating: 91 Points
My Rating: 90 Points

The Review: If you've yet to notice, I try to keep a nice balance of red, white, and sparkling on this blog, but occasionally I'll slip into a rut of red and sparkling because those are my personal preferences. This rut only deepens in the winter because it's rare that I crave a fresh white wine when it's cold out. However, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a bottle of this Vouvray and grabbed it to drink during some of my mom and I's holiday baking, and it certainly did not disappoint.

Some of France's most exciting wines these days are coming out of the same region as today's wine- the Loire Valley. This region, located in the Northwest of France, starts at the Atlantic coast and extends well inland, which allows an interesting mix of climates. This region is the birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc, has stellar Cabernet Francs, and puts out phenomenal Chenin Blanc wines. The best Chenin wines in the Loire (probably the world too) come from the subregion Vouvray, which is where today's wine comes from. In this region, the wines are often off-dry to add depth and counter some of the really high acidity, and occasionally are even made into dessert wines.

The 2017 Monmousseau Clos le Vigneau Vouvray is a very traditional expression of Chenin Blanc and is a great way to get a taste of what Chenin is really like. The nose shows ripe apple and some peach, as well as a little mango and some flashy minerality (almost like a musty cave or cellar). There's also a touch of citrus blossom that livens things up. The taste confirms that apple and stone fruit that we smelled, and the wine jumps out with a zesty punch and a honeyed finish. As I mentioned earlier, this wine's acidity is balanced nicely by a touch of residual sugar. This also added some body and depth, which is always welcomed (especially by red wine drinkers).

While you might not be able to find a Vouvray at a typical grocery store, you'll definitely find it at either a store that has a great wine department (i.e. Wegmans) or a wine retailer (Total Wine or a local shop). These wines are really interesting and are often overlooked, but they can be really exciting and delicious! And even better, these wines play well with meals, desserts, cheeses, and even on their own. A lot can be found sub-$20, so keep an eye out for them next time you're out.

Happy Holidays and happy drinking.

drink what you like,

db

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