Pinon 2019 Vouvray "Les Trois Argiles"

 The 2019 Pinon Demi-Sec Vouvray "Les Trois Argiles" is from average 40 year old vines in three east facing parcels, Mortier, Vau Cheavreau and Les Fosses Rouges. The soils are shallow clay and sandy clay over the limestone (lower Turonien). Many old vines remain, planted by Julien's great-graandfather, Camille, and new plantings are done by massale-selection. Organic farming, of course, with manual harvesting in successive "tries" sorted by hand to select the best grapes, vinification in barrel with wild yeasts, aging in barrel or foudre with minimal racking or SO2. The clay soils usually give a denser and less aromatic wine wine than those from silex soils, capable of aging for 30 years or more. "Les Trois Argiles 2019: François and Julien’s blend from clay terroirs, this presents a very pure and pale hue in the glass, delicately tinged with straw. This is followed by quite beautiful aromatics, white peach, orange slices, mango, white flowers and white pepper. It seems so seductive and evocative, it is difficult to imagine the palate living up to this strong aromatic impression, and yet it manages just fine, showing a silky and textural confidence, packed out with a seductive textural grain, with delicate acidity and a lovely sense of fruit purity and Vouvray fragrance, before it culminates with a bitter twist in the finish. This is just delicious, and I find I prefer it to the Silex Noir on this outing. Drink now or hold." Wine Doctor December 2023