Bellivière 2022 Coteaux du Loir "Vieilles Vignes Eparses"

Vieilles Vignes Éparses is Bellivière's oldest-vine cuvée, with ages ranging from 80 to 100 years old, across multiple parcels in the Coteaux du Loir: the name "éparses" is in fact in reference to the parcellation of the vineyards. These old vines on flinty clay soils, rich in tuffeau (soft limestone), yield a maximum of 25 hl/ha. The fruit is direct-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeasts and minimal sulfur; the 2022 was aged for 20 months on the lees in mostly 1-to-3-year old 500L barrels. Each parcel is vinified and aged separately and blended before bottling. VV Éparses tends to be the most dry, powerful and structured of the Bellivière line-up - it's one of the most distinctive Chenins of the Loire. In the sunny 2022 vintage the wine has about 7 gr/l RS - still dry but with beautifully voluptuous aromatics and with gorgeous, complex exotic fruits on the palate mingling with the great terroir expression always present in this wine. This is definitely more forward and enjoyable young than the 2021, but don't hesitate to age it for ten to twenty-five years to enjoy at maturity.