Domaine Didier Dagueneau : Silex 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Silex 2022 from Domaine Didier Dagueneau

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale yellow hue with silvery highlights, with crystalline, golden brilliance.

Nose

The bouquet is intense and remarkably pure. It reveals distinctive mineral notes of flint, smoke, and wet stone, underscored by chalky nuances. These are joined by delicate citrus aromas such as lime and grapefruit, floral touches of white flowers, and notes of pear and green apple. Herbal accents of coriander, eucalyptus, and fern round out this complex nose, further enriched by white fruits, nectarine, and subtle spices.

Palate

The palate impresses with its remarkable power and density. A keen mineral tension structures the whole, carried by a sleek texture and crystalline substance. Vibrant acidity brings great verticality, creating a perfect balance between breadth and tonic freshness. The finish lingers at length, revealing saline, mouthwatering notes with phenomenal persistence. Smoky aromas reminiscent of rubbed stone intertwine with fine bitter notes of licorice and citrus.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with noble shellfish such as lobster and spiny lobster. It also matches well with oily fish such as salmon or sea bass, notably as carpaccio. Seafood, flat oysters, roasted scallops, and turbot make excellent pairings. Aged goat cheeses, vegetarian cuisine, and spicy dishes also offer lovely harmonies.

Serving and cellaring

Silex 2022 has aging potential through around 2037, allowing the wine to evolve and develop even greater complexity over time.

A Sauvignon Blanc with crystalline minerality and exceptional potential

The estate

Founded in 1982 by Didier Dagueneau in Saint-Andelain, the estate now spans around twelve hectares in the Loire Valley and 3.2 hectares in Jurançon. Following Didier’s tragic death in 2008, his son Louis-Benjamin took over the running of the property, supported by his sister Charlotte on the commercial side. Named Winemaker of the Year by the Revue du Vin de France in 2016, Louis-Benjamin continues his father’s revolutionary approach: organic viticulture, parcel-by-parcel vinifications, and extended aging in barrels of varying formats. Legendary cuvées such as Silex, Pur Sang, and Astéroïde place the estate among the pantheon of the world’s greatest white-wine producers.

The vineyard

Classified as Vin de France since the 2017 vintage following a disagreement with the Pouilly-Fumé appellation, Silex comes from a unique 4-hectare terroir located at the top of the Saint-Andelain hillside. The Sauvignon Blanc vines, aged 25 to 80 years, are rooted in particularly compact clay-with-flint soils, mixed with large raw flint stones. The estate practices demanding viticulture based on biodynamic principles, favoring an approach that respects the terroir and natural cycles.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage in the Loire Valley is marked by its sunny character while maintaining a fine balance. Hand harvesting took place from September 16 to 26, 2022, enabling grapes to be picked at optimal ripeness.

Vinification and aging

Vinification of Silex 2022 is carried out with indigenous yeasts, thus preserving the terroir’s natural expression. The diverse aging regimen lasts 20 months: fermentation begins in barrels, followed by aging in a range of vessels including 320-liter cigar-shaped barrels, 600-liter demi-muids, ovoid vats, Wineglobes, and ceramic eggs. The wine completes its aging with a period of 10 to 12 months in barrel, refining its complexity and structure.

Grape variety

100% Sauvignon Blanc.