Vincent Ricard is easily making some of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the Touraine AOC, one of the Loire Valley’s largest and most diverse.
As importer Charles Neal puts it, “Touraine has never been rated as highly as Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, Quincy or Menetou Salon. But times change, demand soars in other regions and prices rise, leaving a void for well-priced, affordable wine. With the increased prices of Sancerre, we saw interest in Menatou rise, then Quincy. Now Touraine is looked at as the value white wine of the Loire."
2013 Domaine Ricard Touraine Blanc 'Le Petiot'
Terrific Sancerre alternative at a great price!
This vintage is sold out. To order the new vintage, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store.
After earning his Degree in Enology and then working for several years at some of the premiere estates in the Loire Valley, Vincent Ricard returned home to his family’s vineyards in 1998. He and his father immediately bought themselves out of their cooperative contract, and began converting all of their vineyards over to organics. Today, all of the vineyards are organic, and the estate is now one of the most esteemed in the appellation.
The estate’s Le Petiot bottling is 100% Sauvignon Blanc that comes from hand harvested, 30 year old vineyards. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then allowed to age on its lees. Vincent ages a small percentage of the wine (20%) in older French oak, and this process serves to enhance the texture of the wine.
The Wine Advocate described this one as being “very precise and zesty on the palate, this is a pure and green-hearted Sauvignon. Best buy.” Translated, that means it’s nicely dry and fresh with notes of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime) and green herbs and it’s a great deal. Delicious by itself on the porch or patio nicely chilled, this one also works incredibly well with fresh fish, shrimp, seafood, and vegetables.
This vintage is sold out. To order the new vintage, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville