Domaine La Clef du Récit, Menetou Salon

€27.99

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The Loire has many secrets in the form of its lesser-known villages and this is one of the finest.

A gorgeous, layered, fresh and elegant Sauvignon Blanc that is recognisable as Loire, but distinct from its more famous neighbouring villages of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé.

Bright, fresh green and yellow fruit flavours are supported by a broader body and a satisfying palate. Flavours of apricot, gooseberry, peach and citrus fruits are higlighted by flint-smoke and fresh-cut herbs. It's a delicious wine.

Interestingly, for such a serious and accomplished wine, this is an estate that was only fully established in 2012 by young winemaker Anthony Girard (he's the chap in the picture). Having planted the Menetou Salon vineyard in Morogues in 2010, he bought the remaining eight and a half hectares of vineyard to complete his estate in Sancerre and Quincy. Basing the winemaking in a hamlet called Recy, in the south-east of the Sancerre appellation, he makes excellent wines in the three villages, in white, red and rosé styles.

The quality factors are two-fold: his precision and skill in the winery and the selection of vineyard soil types that he made when hew bought the estate. One more important than the other? Well, yes, it's the soils. The soils in Menetou Salon are almost entirely Kimmeridgian clay, the historic soil of some of the finest estates on the Loire. These soils hold water and the heat of the sun better than the flinty soils of Pouilly Fumé or the "Caillotes" of Sancerre. It's the same sort of climate and the same river influence, but the soils here makes the wine softer, broader and richer.

While a lifetime studying Sauvignon Blancs might sound really dull (not to mention mouth-numbingly acidic...), a little scratching at the surface, and a good deal of experimenting with wine from different villages and soils types, will yield much more nuance than the supermarkets' New World Sauvignon sections would lead you to believe could ever exist. The Loire is definitely the place to start.

Region: Loire Valley

Country: France

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Style: Pure, Medium-Light, Herbaceous, Fruity, Fresh, Fleshy, Elegant, Crisp, Complex, Bright

Best food matches: Tuna, Trout, Soft Cheeses, Shellfish, Seafood, Scallops, Salads, Oysters, Mature Cheeses, Lobster, Hard Cheeses, Goat's Cheese, Fine Dining, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Aperitif

Alcohol: 13%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

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Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.