Les Quatre Piliers Touraine ‘Chapitre 1’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Les Quatre Piliers Touraine ‘Chapitre 1’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Les Quatre Piliers Touraine ‘Chapitre 1’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is a white wine from the Touraine appellation in the Loire Valley, France. The estate is run by Valentin Desloges, a young vigneron trained at prestigious domaines including Coche-Dury in Meursault. Chapitre 1 is a pure Sauvignon Blanc from 70+ year old vines grown on clay-limestone soils with flint, farmed organically and biodynamically.

Vinification & Style
Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc from 15–35 year old vines (some sources cite 70+ years), planted on limestone soils with sands and flint, west-facing exposure. The grapes are hand-harvested and directly pressed, with no sulfur added at pressing. The must macerates in stainless steel for 15 days before transferring to 225L barrels from Cheval Blanc for élevage. Fermentation is with indigenous yeasts, with 80% malolactic fermentation completed. The wine is aged for 10 months in 500L demi-muids (less than 10% new oak), then blended for two months before bottling in late July 2024. Unfined and unfiltered, with only 3g/hL sulfur at bottling (low-sulfite).

Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright, with silver and gold reflections.
Nose: Confit citrus, orange zest, candied orange, white flowers, anise, herbs, spring flowers, pineapple, passion fruit, verbena, fresh brioche, with subtle oak and saline minerality.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, precise and layered, built around a dense, textured core of fruit framed by a delicately oaky touch. Tense, balanced and crystalline, with a gastronomic bitterness and saline minerality.
Finish: Long, saline and ethereal, with superb aromatic persistence.

Professional Reviews
William Kelley (The Wine Advocate): 91 points (2023 vintage).

Serving & Pairing
Decanting: Recommended to decant 2 hours before serving.
Serving temperature: 11–13°C.
Food pairing: Oysters with lemon juice (the wine’s minerality pairs beautifully with the oyster’s brininess), scallops in cream sauce (the wine’s richness balances the cream’s richness), roasted cod with herb butter (the wine’s fruit balances the fish’s oils), goat cheese Chèvre (the wine’s acidity pairs well with the cheese’s acidity). Avoid overly rich red meat dishes, which would make the wine feel thin.

Drinking Window
Enjoy from 2025 through approximately 2035–2040. The wine has aging potential of 10+ years under proper cellar conditions.

Origin: France, Loire Valley, Touraine
Type: White Wine (Dry)
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 13%
Volume: 750ml