Vire Clesse Macconais and Faye D'Anjou Coteaux du Layon

"Macconais"
to the south of the Cote Chalonnaise, the most southern section of Burgundy wine; mainly based around Chardonnay. Production is around 40 million bottles a year. The production has been mainly around cooperative wineries; however recently growers have been farming and expressing this outstanding terroir. A new generation of artisan has grown fast in the last decades. The approach of those little vigneron is inspired by the sustainability of work in the vineyards.
The appellations best known is Pouilly Fuisse which lately has been promoted by the INAO a 1er Cru status. Established in 1992 800 hectares spread over four communes Fuisse, Solutré Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintre. Also, next to Pouilly Fuisse are other amazing appellations, Saint Verant and Vire Clesse. Vire and Clesse are two communes between Tournus and Macon communes; in 1998 both of them joined into one appellation Vire-Clesse for the fact they resembled each other in tipicity and style. 
2014 Domaine Vallette Vire Clesse 
From 60-year-old vines; aged for 30 months in old barrels. Soil Bajocien era limestone, and Jurassic era marl limestone. Prestine acidity, high minerals context with great complexity. 
Philippe Valette and his wife Cecile carved out a Domaine in the commune of Chaintre. Since 1992 chemical has been banned in the vineyard and vinification has been carried without sulfites. Their work has taken a direction inspired by oxidative style of wine. Lots of energy and tension.
Faye d'Anjou is a little village in the Coteaux du Layon AOC an appellation covers an area of 20 communes in Maine et Loire along the banks of the Layon, a small tributary of the Loire. 
The vineyards grow on slopes with good sun exposure and ventilation, the climate is maritime and particularly dry, this is an area reliably to harvest overripe Chenin. Infact the appellation is dedicated to sweet wines, famous to be the other choice of Sauterns lover. Six villages, namely Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Faye-d'Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay are allowed to add their name to the appellation. Furthermore, two villages within the Coteaux du Layon area form their own respective AOC – Bonnezeaux and Chaume, a separate AOC under the name Quarts de Chaume is found in the Commune of Chaume. The wines of Coteaux du Layon are all made from Chenin blanc, locally often called Pineau de la Loire.
However in these AOC lots of vignerons want to make dry Chenin wines, and with the respect of the terroir they decided to label their wines a Vin de France. 
In the little village of Faye D'Anjou Pierre Menard works Chenin vines, some older than 100 years. 
He mainly makes dry wines and using the Anjou AOC. A degree in winemaking with lots of experience overseas, he belongs to the nouvelle vague of dry chenin sans botrytis berries focus on the tension and energy of the Pineau de la Loire.
Wild yeast fermentation and lots of details in the vineyard.
2017 Pierre Menard Le Clos des Mailles 
A parcel located in Faye D'Anjou along the Layon river, vines aged between 10 and 40 years old on schist, quartz and phtanite rocks soil; barrique and demi muids for 18 months. Little 2,5 grams residual sugar is left on this vintage but the wine does have the match stick minerality, elevated acidity and powerful energy. 

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raffaele mastrovincenzo
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wine / spirit / lambic / drinker

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