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2021 Quincy
Domaine TrotereauPierre Ragon opens his classic Quincy bottling.
Southwest of Sancerre, on the banks of a tributary of the Loire River, the Cher, lies the small Quincy appellation. France’s second recognized AOC in 1936 after only Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Quincy is home to sandy, silex-ridden topsoil with an undercurrent of pink limestone. Its terroir is truly unique, unlike any other Sauvignon Blanc appellation in the world, and gives a very particular wine. Sauvignon is able to ripen more fully here while retaining an intriguing aromatic profile, and the wines are capable of aging quite gracefully.
As recently as fifty years ago, the wines of Quincy were more recognized in France for quality than Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé, and commanded a higher price. Today, the appellation has largely faded from recognition, and cave cooperatives have bought up a lot of the land at pennies on the dollar. Most at Quincy try to make bracing, nervy Sauvignons that recall the typical style that can be produced anywhere, and precious few are willing or able to take the risks necessary to produce the type of wine that made Quincy famous and that only their terroir can produce.
At Domaine Trotereau, Pierre Ragon hasn’t rushed to replant with higher-yielding clones since he took over the reins in 1973 at this storied family domaine founded in 1804, and he is now blessed with vines over one hundred years old that are still producing exceptional fruit. With almost fifty consecutive vintages under his belt, Pierre proves he still has a few tricks up his wily sleeves with this spirited and classic 2021 release.
—Dixon Brooke
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2021 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sauvignon Blanc |
Appellation: | Quincy |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Domaine Trotereau |
Winemaker: | Pierre Ragon |
Vineyard: | 10.64 ha |
Soil: | Sandy, Silex, Pink Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14% |
More from this Producer or Region
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This is Sauvignon Blanc unlike any others in the world: textured, lush, full of aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit—all supported by spiny minerality.
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2022 Sancerre
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An intense exotic nose lures you in before the minerality channels the lightning energy of this pure Sauvignon Blanc.
2022 Reuilly Pinot Noir
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Gently perfumed and full of fresh berries with the bright, stony finish typical of wines from Reuilly
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
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This Saumur Champigny is electric and alive, from the first scent of roses on the nose to the juxtaposition of textured tannic grip and sheer weightlessness on the palate.
2020 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
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This blanc is chiseled and electric and boasts notes of citrus, herbs, and stones that would beautifully complement pan-fried sea bass or shrimp tacos.
2022 Quincy “Vieilles Vignes”
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Pierre’s old-vine Quincy has a mouth-coating texture and charming notes of tangerine that are certain to earn this great appellation the following it deserves.
2022 Cheverny
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About The Producer
Domaine Trotereau
About The Region
Loire
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
More from Loire or France
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2021 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
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2022 Quincy “Château de Quincy”
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2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
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2021 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
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2018 Chinon Blanc “Clos de la Plante Martin”
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2020 Chinon “Les Varennes du Grand Clos”
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1989 Vouvray “Bois Guyon”
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2021 Sancerre “Les Cris”
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2020 Saumur Champigny “Outre Terre”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Touraine “Fines Bulles”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2021 Sancerre “Cuvée Marcel Henri”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2021 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Château de Quincy”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2018 Chinon Blanc “Clos de la Plante Martin”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Les Varennes du Grand Clos”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
1989 Vouvray “Bois Guyon”
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171