Coteaux du Layon, Domaine des Gaudrières, Loire, France

Coteaux du Layon, Domaine des Gaudrières, Loire. Coteaux du Layon is a sweet white wine from Anjou, France. This organic dessert wine comes from late-harvested Chenin Blanc. And, this is the typical white grape of the Loire. Full-bodied and round, with apricot, lychee, yellow plum, ripe apple, almond, honey. Also fresh tension, long finish.

The renowned wine guide Le Guide Hachette writes: "Exotic notes of lychee and passionfruit, a beautiful freshness and presence on the palate without flabbiness or heaviness. This Coteaux du Layon is a beautiful promise of delicious food, for example, in combination with a citrus tart."

• Serve: 9 °C
• Drink: now until 2030+

Noble sweet dessert wine, what is that?

Winery Domaine des Gaudrières (20 ha) is the second winery of Philippe Socheleau from winery Les Deux Vallées. The soil here in Anjou has a lot of schist. This provides fine minerality in the wines.

This organic Coteaux du Layon partly has pourriture noble or botrytis, noble rot. This causes the grapes to shrivel, which concentrates the sugars and changes the taste and texture (more honey notes and thicker juice).

Hand-harvested and fermented at low temperature. You can safely store this noble sweet dessert wine for a long time. Also try the other wines from Les Deux Vallées, such as the beautiful Savennières and the Anjou blanc.

It's time for Loire wines, time for Chenin

Climate change is causing many changes in the wine world. For example, areas that used to be cool are now warmer. This is an advantage for the northern Loire, as the grapes ripen more easily. This is not only seen in Sancerre and Anjou. Muscadet is also becoming more beautiful. And it is also becoming easier to make dessert wine.

Terra Vitis

The Socheleau brothers were originally apple growers. In the heart of Anjou, they cultivate about 40 hectares, mainly planted with Chenin blanc in the Coteaux du Layon. They are affiliated with Terra Vitis, which stands for sustainable viticulture and wine production. Terra Vitis is a holistic vision with respect for nature, people, and the environment. This is therefore broader than organic wine. Visit Terra Vitis for more information.