La Mignonne - Coteaux Du Layon 1er Cru Chaume 2018

Type: Sweet White
Alcohol: 11%
Vintage: 2018
Size: 750ml
Closure: Cork
Varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc
Structure: Full-bodied
Terroir: Sandy and gravelly soils over schist, providing excellent drainage and promoting deep root growth. The combination of these soils and the vineyard’s meticulous cultivation methods ensures the vines thrive even in challenging conditions, making them more resilient to excesses or shortages of water.
Harvest: The grapes are harvested by hand in successive sorting. A negative sorting is done a few days before the harvest to eliminate any damaged or under-ripe fruit, followed by two more selections to ensure only perfectly botrytized grapes are harvested. The goal is not to concentrate the fruit but to achieve a perfect balance and freshness.
Winemaking: The wine undergoes direct pressing without re-pumping, using a pneumatic press.
Fermentation: It ferments in 300L oak barrels with indigenous yeasts.
Aging: For 12 months in barrel to allow the wine to develop complexity and elegance.

On the Nose: La Mignonne 2018 boasts a powerful and evolving nose. It begins with exotic fruit aromas, transitioning seamlessly into dried fruits, and finally to prune notes with a hint of brandy. This dynamic aromatic profile reveals the complexity and depth of the wine, suggesting its time spent in oak and on lees.

On the Palate: The wine presents a robust and endless finish. The texture is both structured and balanced, with an elegant and refined mouthfeel. Despite its power, it retains a vibrant freshness that enlivens the tastebuds, reflecting the careful pursuit of harmony between concentration and freshness. The balance of richness, power, and acidity makes this wine elegant yet full of character.

Pairing & Cellaring: Ideal with blue cheeses, the wine's structure and sweetness balance the saltiness of the cheese.
It pairs wonderfully with dishes like pan-fried foie gras, shrimp profiteroles, or even a poached veal escalope.
It complements fruit-forward desserts like prunes and apple charlotte, bringing out the wine’s nuanced complexity.

La Mignonne 2018 has excellent aging potential, offering complexity and refinement that will continue to develop over the next 10-15 years. The wine will retain its freshness and evolve in character with further cellaring.