Domaine Philippe Gilbert Menetou-Salon Blanc AOC 2022
Domaine Philippe Gilbert is one of the top producers in Menetou-Salon, a lesser-known AOC that borders Sancerre. While obscure in comparison to its neighbor, Menetou-Salon has great terroirs; Gilbert's fantastic wines – some of the region's very best – are proof.
The domaine is equally adept at producing both mineral, fine-boned whites (Sauvignon Blanc) and silky, noble reds (Pinot Noir), both of which impress even at the entry-level domaine bottlings
Grape Varietals & Region: 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Planted 25 years ago on a clayey-limestone terroir dating back to the Kimmeridgian, the vines extend on average over 10 or so hectares divided among six plots.
Taste Profile: Tonic and full-bodied sauvignon. Fresh and salty wine. Unfailingly mineral-driven, yet without the straitjacketed citrusy rigidity more conventionally and commercially minded Loire Sauvignon Blanc frequently displays. A sense of lusciousness—one that is distinct from viscosity—provides a texturally attractive counterpoint to the rapier-like acidity, and nods ever so glancingly to its upstream Chenin-Blanc-based cousins
Winemaking Process: This white sauvignon is aged on fine lees in a stainless-steel tank for 10 to 18 months.