Made by the Caves de Producteurs de Vouvray – a local co-op of 30 growers from across the Vouvray appellation – the group allocates some 50% of their harvest specifically for this wine’s production. The co-op has thrived for more than seventy years, with sparkling production growing to new and soaring heights over the past decade. Vouvray is the global heart of the very best chenin blanc production, set in the cooling maritime climate of the Loire Valley. Chenin grows better here than virtually any other region in the world – fog in the morning, a salty ocean-driven breeze that carries down the bends of the Loire river, and the chalky limestone soils all combine for an environment perfectly suited to this grape.

For this beauty, the grapes were grown on east-west-facing slopes at the base of a small valley, close to the city of Tours. This vineyard in particular has sandy-clay soils with ample siliceous pebbles above and below ground. The vines are 60-years-young, giving an added dimension of complexity to the final wine. After a slow pressing in a pneumatic press, the free-run juice ferments separately while the must clarifies for a minimum of 24 hours. Fermentation at low temperatures occurs next, to preserve the delicate aromas, and then aging for roughly 6 months before bottling.

Pop open a bottle and experience delightfully crisp Red Delicious apples, ripe pears, crushed blackberries, struck flint, key lime, homemade buttery pie crust, and zippy pomelo, all uplifted with a mineral edge reminiscent of river rocks in a gently babbling brook. The end result is supremely drinkable, delightfully bubbly, and vinous, and all-in-all, a fantastic sip to be had in near-record time! We got as much as they would sell us – good bubbly at this price is something you want to keep around for everyday drinking, in our humble opinion! This is a lay-it-all-on-the-line steal of a deal… and one not to be missed!