2013 Domaine Adele Rouze, Quincy, Loire Valley, France.
This lovely and excellent Sauvignon Blanc has nice lift, tang and zest with pure terroir and varietal character, a perfect refreshing white for summer. Domaine Adele Rouze of Quincy, the first AC in the Loire Valley, has been a new star on the scene for quality Sauvignon Blanc since Charles Neal starting importing the wines a few vintages back, and I highly recommend looking for it when you are looking for a white wine, especially as a counterpoint to Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume. At around 30 Years Old, Ms Rouze is a star, she farms organic and uses estate parcels of old vines, some date back to the 1920’s, she was trained in Bordeaux and made wine there until coming home to make this cuvee from her father Jacques’ vines. Adele uses native yeast, ages on the lees and uses stainless tank, her total production is about 8,000 bottles, she is without question a small artisan producer, making an exciting wine. The 2013 version is bright with lemon/lime, white peach, melon and grapefruit leading the way with mineral and stones, faint cut grass, cat pee and saline. Everything is zippy and edgy, this wine picks up depth in the glass and remains bursting with energy throughout, making for a charming and refined expression of Sauvignon Blanc and the region.
($18 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive
