Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups : Clos Michet 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes for the "Clos Michet" 2024 Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups

Tasting

Colour
The glass reveals a delicate golden apricot hue, streaked with bright highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is complex and layered. It opens with subtle buttery notes, before giving way to aromas of citrus, quince and apple, underscored by a mineral touch of gunflint, honey, white flowers and gentle spices.

Palate
With a medium body and an elegant texture, the palate offers a fine balance carried by a lively, delicate acidity. The mid-palate unfolds flavours of ripe lemon and yellow fruits, stretching into a persistent finish that is honeyed, mineral and subtly zesty. The 2024 vintage stands out for its particularly pronounced freshness and minerality.

Food and wine pairing

This dry white wine pairs beautifully with seafood, grilled fish or fish in creamy sauces, as well as with white meats such as roast chicken. It is also a wonderful match for aged goat cheeses, fine charcuterie, and Asian dishes delicately flavoured with ginger and lemongrass.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, this wine is best served at a temperature of between 7 and 12°C. It can be enjoyed now, but its lovely acidity will allow it to age favourably in the cellar until around 2030.

The mineral, radiant expression of a Chenin Blanc from Montlouis-sur-Loire

The estate

Founded in 1989 by Jacky Blot, the Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups has established itself as a key player in its region. Located within the Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation, the estate spans around 45 hectares dedicated to Chenin Blanc. A pioneer in crafting dry, terroir-driven white wines, the estate favours certified organic viticulture and low-intervention winemaking. Since his father's passing in 2023, Jean-Philippe Blot has been at the helm of the estate, passionately carrying on this legacy of excellence and precision.

The vineyard

This cuvée comes from a 12-hectare monopole located at the highest point of the appellation's hillsides. South-facing, the vines, aged between 40 and 60 years, thrive on soils composed of sand and clay, resting on a deep limestone tuffeau bedrock. This distinctive terroir encourages deep rooting and lends a characteristic chalky minerality.

The vintage

2024 was marked by exceptionally high rainfall and reduced sunshine. Following an early budbreak in mid-March, persistent humidity through July led to significant disease pressure, requiring rigorous work in the vineyards. A brief sunny respite in August allowed the grapes to advance in ripeness before the rain returned.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of the "Clos Michet" 2024 follows a low-intervention approach. Fermentation is initiated by indigenous yeasts, and malolactic fermentation is deliberately avoided to preserve the wine's liveliness. Aging takes place in barrels, 80% of which are one- to four-year-old barrels and 20% new oak, allowing for subtle development without overpowering the wine.

Grape variety

Chenin Blanc (100%).