World Wine – Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Marc Brédif Vouvray Classic is a picture-perfect Chenin Blanc, with a touch of sweetness. TASTING NOTES: This wine is fresh, bright, and textured. Its pretty and floral aromas and smooth finish should make it an excellent choice with hummus-packed pita bread. (Tasted: August 22, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
World Wine – Fresh and easy to drink, the well-balanced Champalou Vouvray offers a great opportunity for the uninitiated wine drinker to get a taste of the Loire Valley. This wine shows excellent aromas and flavors of tart citrus, dried herbs, and delicate flowers. The crisp, mostly-dry finish pairs it nicely with simply prepared poultry.
* Review of 2017 vintage.
World Wine – Fresh and easy to drink, the well-balanced Champalou Vouvray offers a great opportunity for the uninitiated wine drinker to get a taste of the Loire Valley. This wine shows excellent aromas and flavors of tart citrus, dried herbs, and delicate flowers. The crisp, mostly-dry finish pairs it nicely with simply prepared poultry.
* Review of 2017 vintage.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – “The citrus-colored sample of the 2020 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux Première Trie still shows a very fine CO2 perlage in the glass that opens with clear and concentrated but also lush fruit and floral and chalky aromas, with lemon confit and fig mustard. Very elegant and even playful on the palate, with finely vivacious acidity, this full-bodied, silky and salty-piquant Haut-Lieu is beautiful in its terroir expression that favors a fruitier, fresher and more elegant style that is impossible not to like. Some of our readers might find it too vivacious and salty (while looking for hedonistic sweet wines), but as a critic, I am totally fine with this style. The aging potential should be great.” - Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate
Vouvray, nestled in the heart of France's esteemed Loire Valley, is a region synonymous with the Chenin Blanc grape variety. The terroir here is uniquely suited to produce wines of remarkable depth and character. The region's climate is moderated by the Loire River, leading to steady ripening of grapes and allowing winemakers to achieve a balance between acidity and sweetness. Historically, Vouvray has been renowned for its wines that range from bone dry to dessert-sweet, and even sparkling. The soil, predominantly made of tuffeau stone, imparts a notable minerality to the wines. The expression of this grape in Vouvray is unparalleled, offering flavors and aromas of green apple, honey, and sometimes a touch of quince. Its versatility in style and aging potential makes it a treasured choice for collectors and casual drinkers. The region's rich history and dedication to quality have positioned Vouvray as a standard-bearer in the world of white wines.
Vouvray wine is a distinctive white wine made primarily from the Chenin Blanc grape in the Vouvray region located within the Loire Valley of France. The versatility of Chenin Blanc allows Vouvray wines to span a range of styles, from bone dry to lusciously sweet, and even sparkling. These wines often showcase prominent fruit notes, including apple, pear, and peach, complemented by a characteristic minerality from the region's tuffeau stone soil. A mature Vouvray can develop richer nuances of honey, nuts, and dried fruits, making it a captivating choice for wine enthusiasts.
While Vouvray itself is a wine region, the broader Loire Valley, of which Vouvray is a part, is known for producing outstanding Chenin Blanc wines. Within the Vouvray appellation, various micro-climates and soil compositions contribute to the wine's diversity. Areas closer to the Loire River tend to have more limestone-rich soils, which often produce wines with heightened acidity and pronounced minerality.
The popularity of Vouvray wines stems from their varied styles. Sec (dry) Vouvrays are crisp with vibrant acidity, Demi-Sec (off-dry) wines strike a balance between sweetness and acidity, Moelleux wines are notably sweet, and sparkling Vouvrays, known as Vouvray Pétillant, offer bubbly alternatives. Some esteemed producers to look for include Domaine Huet, Marc Bredif, and Domaine des Aubuisières, known for their consistency and expressive representations of the region.
Vouvray, as a region, offers exceptional value for the quality of wines produced. While top-tier producers might command higher prices, there are numerous wineries offering high-quality Vouvrays at accessible price points. Exploring younger vintages, lesser-known producers, or even the region's sparkling wines can lead to delightful discoveries without breaking the bank.
Given the range of Vouvray's styles, it's a remarkably food-friendly wine. Dry Vouvrays pair beautifully with light dishes, such as grilled chicken, seafood, or salads. The slightly sweeter Demi-Sec Vouvrays complement dishes with a touch of spice, making them excellent choices for Thai or Indian cuisine. Moelleux, the sweeter variety, pairs wonderfully with blue cheese, foie gras, or desserts like apple tarts. Sparkling Vouvrays can be enjoyed as an aperitif or alongside lighter appetizers. Their adaptability at the dining table is a testament to Vouvray's allure and charm.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.