Albane & Bertrand Minchin: Valençay

Located to the southeast of the appellation of Touraine in France’s Loire Valley (roughly between Vouvray and Sancerre), Valençay is a recently promoted AOC wine appellation (gained AOC status in 2004). It totals only 142 hectares.

Unlike most of the other Loire valley wine regions, Valencay is not located on the Loire river but is split and based around another river called the Cher. The Cher also flows through the appellations of Touraine and Montlouis-sur-Loire before it eventually joins the Loire.

Several varietals are allowed in the AOC including Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Cot (Malbec), and Sauvignon Blanc. The reds are often blended and the Sauvignon Blanc can often be found as a bottling on its own like in the neighboring Touraine appellation.

Albane and Bertrand purchased Le Clos Delorme in 2004 after discovering the flint soil of the property with gravel over clay on a gentle rise and realising the potential of the coteaux to produce both rich and vibrant Gamay and Cot as well as elegant Pinot Noir. All work in the vineyard is done by hand with an organic approach to their farming, having used no herbicides on their land since 1999.

2009 Valençay Rouge Le Claux Delorme

This wine is made up of 40% Gamay, 30% Cot (Malbec), 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Pinot noir from vines that are aged from 20– 30 years. The vines yield a lowly 45hl/ha.

All varities are kept separate during fermentation after sorting via a table. They are fully destemmed and have a cold maceration for an 8 day period. They are then left on skins for a period of 30 days in 50 hectolitre tanks during fermentation. Only the Cabernet Franc and Cot are then transferred to 600L barrels, the rest remains in stainless steel until bottling.

Wonderful lifted spice, red fruits and violets leap from the glass. The palate has jubey type fruit of blackberry and cherry but with a spiced mineral, almost black stone, backbone. The wine is framed beautifully by an acid line that is pure, precise and balanced.