Château du Nozay — 2022
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Introduction
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WINERY: Le Nozay is a small 17th-century castle near Sainte Gemme en Sancerrois in Sancerre. In 1970, Baron Philippe de Benoist and his wife Marie-Hélène settled in Château du Nozay and created Domaine du Nozay. They planted the first hectare of Sauvignon Blanc in 1971, which they later expanded to 15 hectares. Philippe was joined by his son Cyril, who now heads the estate. The Domaine du Nozay has been certified in Organic Agriculture since 2011 and in Biodynamics since 2017. It is a family wine estate in Sancerre, surrounded by peace and tranquility. The resulting wines reflect this.
WINE: Grown in Kimmeridgian marls, 220 meters high at the bottom of the Nozay’s valley with slight eastern facing slopes. The grapes come only from the plot that bears the same name.
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Vineyard Profile
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The famous terroir of Sancerre, known as “Terres Blanches” (white lands), promotes self-defense and good health for the vine. Pruning, disbudding, and training techniques are used to create a favorable micro-climate. The soil is managed for the benefit of the biomass and the vine. The Domaine also experiments with sonic stimulation in the vineyards. Speaker towers emit tonal sequences throughout the day to enhance sap circulation and overall plant health.
- Appellation: Sancerre AOC
- Location: Loire Valley
- Cultivation: Organic - Demeter, 2011; Biodynamic - Demeter, 2017
- Vine Age: 50 years
- Soil: Clay-Limstone
- Elevation: 220 meters
- Exposure: Eastern exposure
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Vintage Report
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From April, hot and dry conditions resulted in an early bud break. This favorable weather led to rapid vegetation growth. The flowering also occurred early and quickly, starting on May 20th and finishing by May 30th. June was hot, but there was significant rainfall at the end of the month, including 110 mm between June 22nd and 26th. These rains helped the vines withstand the subsequent heatwaves, which greatly contributed to the exceptional success of the vintage at the Domaine. July and August were extremely hot and dry, with some beneficial rains in early September. Our winery is now filled with this remarkable nectar. We are grateful to St. Vincent and nature for compensating for the losses we experienced in the 2021 vintage.
- Harvest Date(s): September 13, 2022
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Vinification
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The grapes from these vines are harvested manually, then pressed with a pneumatic press, with the advantage of not “jostling” the marc and therefore obtaining a very clean must. Vinification takes place in oak barrels, which last as long as possible, with no use of yeasts or superfluous additives. Time does its work while being, despite everything, closely watched.
- Aging: 10 months in oak barrels
- Filtration: Light lenticular filtration
- Fining: No fining
- Bottled: September 11, 2023
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol: 12.9%
- TA: 3.72
- RS: 0.16 g/L
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Tasting Notes
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A golden yellow color, very luminous which will allow the dazzling of our palate and will release all its length. On the nose, white flowers and sweet citrus fruits are raised very slightly by the airy and pure sides of the jar and on the palate we find an explosion of flavors of pear, mango, and lychee, marking a concentration of Sauvignon Blanc and a balanced acidity.
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Images
Reviews
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Château du Nozay — 2022 – Wine Spectator – 90 Points
"Warm spiced apple, sun tea and ginger notes mark this version, which starts off open-knit and is quickly laced up with lemony acidity. There's a savory feel to the salty mineral and dried herb elements, with white grapefruit pithiness and a hint of salted, toasted brioche on the nervy, lithe finish."