Detailed Description
Ronceray is a complex wine, resulting from the blend of our plots on the rump of Quarts-de-Chaume. A terroir with complex geology, the marriage of shales and pudding sandstones gives this cuvée a sharp minerality and a floral and fruity richness. A fine bitterness, signature of this terroir, brings complexity and length on the palate.
Reviews:
- Wine Advocate: The 2018 Anjou Ronceray assembles all the plots of the Domaine on the Quarts-de-Chaume rump. Its name refers to the abbey of the same name, owner of the Chaume vineyards since the 11th century, reports Ivan Massonat, who stresses the complex geology of the terroir that combines schists and pudding sandstone. The bouquet of the golden-yellow 2018 is noble, perfectly ripe and concentrated in its elegant stone fruit aromas that intermingle with precise and refreshing slate as well as lemony notes. Filigreed, finessed and perfectly round and intense on the palate, this is a gorgeous Chenin with intense fruit, lush fruit concentration, lots of extract, fine tannins but also finesse and balance. Grapefruit bitters on the finish. To me, this is a picture-book Anjou from Rochefort-sur-Loire, and it is characterized by richness, finesse and elegance. Irresistible.
Producer Information
In 1978, the bubbly and brawny Jo Pithon started his first winery, Domaine Pithon, in the Loire Valley appellation of Anjou. In 2008, he reimagined the family business to form Pithon-Paillé and now in 2019 Jo made the difficult decision to sell the estate to a new, but deeply dedicated owner: Ivan Massonnat. While no longer the formal head of the estate, Jo will remain heavily involved in decision-making, as well as the production of some of Pithon-Paillé’s most celebrated wines. Bringing aboard the young, but immensely talented Adrien Moreau was the final piece of the puzzle for Domaine Belargus, and the team is eager to get started, with the 2018 vintage representing the first for the nascent Domaine. Together, they have formed the brand new “Domaine Belargus”, a name referring to the rare, beautiful blue butterflies found in the region. Currently they farm 26 hectares of their own land, having recently purchased an additional 13 hectares in Quarts de Chaume and Savennieres AOCs. The monopole vineyard, “Le Coteau des Treilles” remains the gem of the estate, representing an unofficial Grand Cru in terms of dry Chenin Blanc production. All of their grapes are farmed organically. Masters of some of the region’s rare, single-vineyard Chenin Blancs and Cabernet Francs, they take their cues from Burgundy where each parcel is prized for its unique character—a concept that is still relatively new to the Loire. Their wines are made as naturally as possible using only one-third of the permitted doses of sulfur. Straight, layered, fresh, balanced and textured, their wines showcase the pedigree of the terroir, and the bright future of this estate.
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