Le Rocher des Violettes Touche-Mitaine 2023

Touche-Mitaine is the dry Chenin Blanc that introduces the range at Le Rocher des Violettes, the Montlouis-sur-Loire estate of Xavier Weisskopf in the Touraine, in the heart of France's Loire Valley. Chenin Blanc is the queen grape of Montlouis, and Weisskopf works it as a single variety across his wines. The vineyards lie on clay and flint over soft tuffeau limestone, a cool-climate terroir that gives Chenin its taut acidity and mineral character. Farming is organic. The wine is aged around twelve months in large old oak foudres, whose size means the wood adds texture and a rounder, gently honeyed weight rather than obvious oak flavour, while a slow oxygen exchange softens the palate. The balance falls to freshness and fruit, making this the more open and approachable of the estate's dry Chenins. It is bright straw gold, with white peach, pear and green apple over honey, chamomile and citrus. The palate is dry and balanced, ripe fruit framed by bright acidity and a stony, mineral finish. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees.