Domaine de la Racauderie Gautier Vouvray Sec 2017

Nowhere in France is vintage more essential to the style, quality, and quantity of the wines that flow from a given year than in the Loire Valley. Late spring frosts in 2017 limited quantity along the Loire but assured excellent quality in Vouvray and elsewhere as the remainder of the 2017 vintage was picture perfect. The conditions smiled favorably upon the 2017 Domaine de la Racauderie Gautier Vouvray Sec, a truly exceptional Vouvray that exemplifies the role weather plays in determining the quality of a vintage. The 2017 Domaine de la Racauderie Gautier Vouvray Sec sports a cheerful sun-kissed robe and sensual aromatics in the form of orchard fruit blossoms, ripe pear, dried honey, and Vouvray’s distinctive minerality born of the region’s limestone-rich tufa soil. In the mouth, this wine bursts with flavor and mouthwatering acidity at the same time that it highlights a core of textured fruit that hints of pear and quince. This Vouvray’s finish is long and vivacious, suggesting that it has many more excellent years ahead of it. For optimal enjoyment of Domaine de la Racauderie’s Gautier 2017 Vouvray Sec, we suggest moderate chilling (40°-45° F) before serving. However, some may prefer this wine slightly less chilled, as fine Chenin Blanc tends to reveal more of its varietal character and reflect the unique terroir of its origin when not ice cold. Enjoy!

All types of seafood, including clams, mussels, prawns, oysters, scallops, and nearly anything else with a shell is a sure bet to serve with the 2017 Domaine de la Racauderie Gautier Vouvray Sec. Smoked salmon, served with cream cheese, onion, and capers works well, too. Vouvray is a natural accompaniment to Southeast Asian dishes, too, as well as sushi, sashimi, and all kinds of vegetables and organic greens, including arugula. In France, the ancestral home of Chenin Blanc, foie gras and pâtés provide preferred accompaniments to Chenin Blanc as the acidity in Chenin Blanc cuts the fat in the pâtés and complements the texture and rich flavors of the meats. Chicken and pork dishes provide enjoyable accompaniments, too. In addition, cheese pies, pastas, poultry, and quiches provide great companionship. Yet, one of the simplest choices to serve with the 2017 Domaine de la Racauderie Gautier Vouvray Sec can be equally satisfying – an assortment of gourmet cheeses, specifically Brie, Camembert, and other crusted cheeses. Traditional Loire Valley varietals such as Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc are some of the wine world’s finest accompaniments to full-flavored crusted or rind cheeses. They also pair well with creamy cow, goat, and sheep’s milk cheeses. Bon appétit!

The Gautier family has long grown grapes and made wine in Vouvray, the Loire Valley’s largest and most renowned appellation, and can trace their domaine in Vouvray back to 1669. Today, the Domaine de la Racauderie is run by Benoît and Jean-Michel Gautier, who make traditional Vouvray from their 86-acre estate. Their extensive underground cellars are carved out of tufa limestone, which provides the ideal conditions for growing Vouvray’s signature grape, Chenin Blanc, and the perfect natural conditions for storing and ageing the domaine’s wines.

The Gautiers fashion classic dry Vouvray Sec (this month’s feature), a racy, off-dry Vouvray Demi-Sec, and when nature permits, the rare Vouvray Moelleux, made from botrytis-infected, late-harvest grapes. Also produced at Domaine de la Racauderie is a selection of high-quality sparkling wines, including a delicious sparking rosé made exclusively from the rare Grolleau grape variety. All of the estate’s grapes are hand-harvested and Domaine de la Racauderie practices minimal intervention in wine making, resulting in wines characterized by purity of fruit and a distinct reflection of Vouvray’s unique terroir.