Domaine Nicolas Brunet spans 17 hectares on the first slopes of Vouvray, farmed by Nicolas Brunet, a ninth-generation winegrower who works the vineyard traditionally, harvesting entirely by hand and relying on plowing rather than herbicides. The vines, ranging from 3 to 75 years old, grow in clay-limestone soil rich in flint, and the estate's wines have tested free of pesticide residue. Its cellars are carved into the region's tuffeau limestone and extend more than 80 meters, holding around 300,000 bottles at a steady 10 to 14°C.
This 2022 bottle carries the Vouvray appellation, one of the Loire's most respected names for Chenin Blanc. Made entirely from Chenin grown on the flinty soil the wine takes its name from, Fleur de Silex, it's vinified dry rather than the sweeter styles Vouvray is also known for. Expect a perfumed nose of brioche, spiced apple, and white peach, with a creamy, luxurious palate balanced by the bright acidity Chenin is prized for.
The result is a powerful, age-worthy dry Vouvray from a family that's worked this same slope for nine generations.