Vouvray - Cuvee de Silex - Bernard Fouquet - Domaine des Aubusières - Loire - France

Bernard Fouquet oversees 65 acres of Chenin Blanc, handed down from one generation to the next, planted on some of the best soils in Vouvray. He is regarded, in France and in the international press, as one of the top three producers in the region today, praised especially for his ability to capture the mineral tones unique to Vouvray’s soil, with the marvelous balance of explosive fruit and titillating sensation of the Chenin Blanc grape. His Cuvee de Silex, from two flint-stone parcels, is done entirely in stainless steel; it is aromatic and fresh on the nose, gentle on the palate, with a tense finish.

Decanter tasting score 91 - From 55-year-old Chenin Blanc vines, this is an off-dry example of Vouvray, boasting flavours of creamed honey, baked apple, lifted blossom and exotic fruit cut by vibrant, mouthwatering acidity and a lick of flint.