Domaine Belargus : Quarts 2021

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru 2021 Domaine Belargus

Tasting

Colour
This white wine reveals a pale yellow hue illuminated by brilliant golden highlights, promising a fine evolution towards amber nuances over time.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the nose opens with intense aromas of ripe white-fleshed fruit such as peach and apricot, underlined by delicate floral and honeyed touches. On aeration, it reveals enticing notes of candied fruit, oriental spices, bergamot and a minerality reminiscent of crushed rock.

Palate
The palate offers a silky, round texture, combining remarkable opulence with great delicacy. A fine acidity and a vertical mineral tension balance the wine's richness, leading to an exceptionally long, fresh and crystalline finish.

Food and wine pairing

This great sweet wine enhances classic dishes such as duck foie gras or blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort. It will also surprise with more contemporary pairings such as grilled oysters, white truffle risotto, or, at the end of a meal, a lightly sweetened apricot tart and washed-rind cheeses.

Service and storage

The Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru 2021 has remarkable ageing potential. It can be cellared for at least a decade, and will continue to develop its aromatic complexity over the following decades.

Other characteristics

This sweet wine boasts a fine concentration with 204 grams per litre of residual sugar, perfectly balanced by an acidic and mineral structure that gives it great freshness.

The mineral elegance and richness of a great white wine from the Loire

The estate

Founded in 2018 by Ivan Massonnat, Domaine Belargus has quickly established itself as an essential reference in the Loire Valley. This twenty-four-hectare vineyard, entirely dedicated to the Chenin Blanc grape variety, is committed to restoring the great wines of Anjou to their former glory. Guided by a meticulous plot-by-plot approach inspired by Burgundy's climats and an environmentally respectful philosophy, the estate produces exceptional cuvées that express the full complexity and richness of the local schist terroirs.

The vineyard

The Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru comes from an exceptional ten-hectare terroir with full south exposure. The vines thrive on soils composed of talc schist covered with clay and quartz pebbles. This unique microclimate, swept by constant winds and bathed in the morning mists of the Layon, encourages the development of noble rot. The estate applies the demanding principles of biodynamics, fostering rich biodiversity and maintaining very low yields to guarantee optimal quality.

The vintage

2021 is the result of a particularly successful harvest despite the vagaries of the weather. Conditions made it possible to obtain grapes with exceptional aromatic concentration, endowed with an ideal acidic structure and crystalline minerality.

Winemaking and ageing

The creation of the Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru 2021 is based on a minimalist philosophy aimed at respecting the integrity of the fruit. Fermentation, triggered by indigenous yeasts, takes place in various vessels such as 228-litre barrels, half-muids or egg-shaped tanks. The wine then undergoes an extended ageing period of one to three years on total lees, without any racking or stirring, thereby enhancing its stability and complexity.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc