Domaine Belargus : Ruchères Monopole 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Domaine Belargus Ruchères Monopole 2021

Tasting

Color

The wine has a pale, clear and brilliant citrine yellow color, reflecting the mineral purity of the schist terroir.

Nose

The bouquet reveals great complexity with aromas of crushed stone and slate, immediately evoking the soil's geological nature. These mineral notes intertwine with fragrances of ripe yellow fruit, such as white peach and apricot, accompanied by floral touches of white flowers. With aeration, nuances of beeswax, white honey and toasted bread add an extra dimension, a testament to the aging in French barrels.

Palate

The attack is crystalline and elegant, supported by remarkable acidity that structures the whole. The palate unveils impressive density and concentration, with flavors of ripe yellow fruit and intense minerality reminiscent of crushed stone. The silky texture coats the palate while the finish persists at length, revealing notes of saline iodine and graphite that powerfully express the character of the purple schist terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This dry white Loire wine is the ideal accompaniment to delicate white fish, shellfish and oyster platters. Its structure also allows it to pair with more elaborate dishes such as grilled lobster, prawns or simply roasted white meats. Wild mushrooms and fine cheeses are also excellent pairings.

Service and cellaring

The Ruchères Monopole 2021 should be served at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine has exceptional aging potential and can be cellared for at least 10 years, during which time it will develop remarkable aromatic complexity. It is recommended to let it age until around 2031 to fully appreciate its evolution.

An exceptional Chenin Blanc from the Savennières schists

The estate

Domaine Belargus was founded in 2018 by Ivan Massonnat, who took over the historic Jo Pithon estate. Located in the Loire Valley, in Anjou Noir, this 24-hectare estate cultivates its entire vineyard biodynamically, certified since 2022. Ivan Massonnat, a former businessman turned winemaker, quickly established his wines thanks to a plot-by-plot approach inspired by the *climats* of Burgundy. The estate takes its name from the blue Belargus butterfly, a rare species emblematic of the local terroirs. Jo Pithon remains a permanent consultant, ensuring the continuity of the estate's qualitative vision.

The vineyard

The Ruchères Monopole 2021 comes from the Clos des Ruchères, a tiny hillside of just 0.40 hectares located in Savennières, at the foot of the Roche-aux-Moines. This exceptional terroir rests on deeply fractured purple schist, a rare geological formation in the appellation. The topsoil, extremely thin at about 20 centimeters deep, forces the roots to dig deep into the schist fissures. The hillside's southwest orientation maximizes sun exposure, favoring optimal maturity for the Chenin Blanc. This vineyard, tended like a garden due to its steep slope, benefits from constant manual care.

The vintage

The year 2021 presented notable climatic challenges in the Loire Valley. Winter was marked by an episode of intense frost affecting vineyards across France. A milder spring allowed for flowering in late May, followed by a particularly rainy June and July. Weather instability was observed between mid-July and mid-August. Despite these difficult conditions, the estate team applied its rigorous maturity monitoring protocol to harvest at the optimal moment.

Winemaking and aging

The Ruchères Monopole 2021 grapes were harvested manually and transported to the winery for spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in French barrels. The wine was aged for 24 months in barrels, using both old barrels and demi-muids, on total lees without stirring or racking. This prolonged aging approach allows for the gradual extraction of complex compounds from the lees, contributing to the wine's structure, organoleptic richness and aging potential. At the end of aging, the wine was gently clarified without fining, preserving its structural fullness.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc