Adèle Rouzé makes just one wine in the tiny hamlet of Quincy, one of the great, under-recognized Sauvignon Blanc zones of the Loire Valley. If you like Sancerre, do yourself a favor and try this wine.
Her Quincy comes from just 4.6 hectares, some planted between 1920 and 1930, with the others planted in the 1950’s. These old, stressed vines yield a potent and intense Sauvignon Blanc that easily competes with the top wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.
2017 Domaine Adèle Rouzé Quincy
Drinks like Sancerre at a much better price!
This vintage is sold out. Click here to order the current release in our online store.
Quincy was the second recognized appellation in France in 1936, second only to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As recently as fifty years ago, the wines of Quincy were more recognized in France for their quality than Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé, and commanded a higher price. Today, only a few devoted vignerons produce the type of wine that made Quincy famous. Adèle Rouzé is one of the few.
The terroir here is truly unique, unlike any other Sauvignon Blanc appellation in the world, and gives a very particular wine. Located southwest of Sancerre, on the banks of the Cher River (a tributary of the Loire), the soils here are a mix of sand and flint, with an undercurrent of pink limestone. These well-drained soils combined with Adèle’s old vines combine to create one of the most uniquely delicious Sauvignon Blancs I’ve ever tried.
In the highly regarded 2017 Loire vintage, Rouzé produced about 3,000 cases of this wine for the entire world! I’m honored and blessed I got 10 precious cases this year. When you taste this ‘Sancerre Lookalike,’ you’ll feel blessed too! It pours a lovely light gold color with green highlights and opens with aromas of fresh citrus, green herbs, and rocky minerality. On the palate, it’s laser-focused and pure with gorgeous notes of lemon, lime zest, tangerine, mint, and lingering minerality. Enjoy this one with creamy goat cheeses or your favorite spring/summer salad.
Wines like this one taste especially good this time of year. And with our loyal Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc clientele, I suspect the timing on this offer is ripe for the picking…..no pun intended.
This vintage is sold out. Click here to order the current release in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville