Champalou Vouvray 2018

Didier and Catherine Champalou are among Vouvray’s most highly acclaimed vignerons. From 35-year-old vines on Vouvray’s inimitable clay, limestone and siliceous tuffeau soils, the Champalous fashion some of the region’s most floral, expressive, and soil-driven wines. Their 2017 Vouvray opens with a pale lemon-gold color and textbook aromas of honeysuckle, tufaceous minerals, quince, and white grapefruit juice. Brisk on the attack, the wine shows impressive palate presence with a kernel of yellow pear and melon fruit buoyed by laser-like acidity and a riveting soft limestone mineral undercurrent. Champalou’s Vouvray finishes long and clean, with waves of persistent floral and mineral overtones backed by an appetizing, tactile edge of pear skin. Enjoy this brilliant Vouvray now and over the coming ten years with poached, delicately sauced fish dishes, sautéed squashes, fresh chèvres, shellfish, and light chicken preparations.