While Vincent Ricard comes from a long line of grape growers, he was the first member of his family to start estate-bottling their wines. His Le Petiot Touraine Blanc has been a fixture in the shop for years, and the 2023 is another splendid bottle of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
Vincent works with old vines, he farms biodynamically, and he ages a small portion of this wine in older barrels. The finished wine gives many Sancerres a serious run for their money, but it comes to you at less than $20!
2023 Domaine Ricard Touraine Blanc 'Le Petiot'
Beautiful Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc at an incredible price!
This wine is a prime example of why France's Loire Valley is considered the spiritual birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc. It's so expressive, so evocative, and it's actually quite layered and complex. More on that later, but let's talk a bit about Monsieur Ricard.
Vincent Ricard is a serious over-achiever. Since joining his family's estate in the late-1990's, he convinced his father to stop selling all of their pristine grapes to the local cooperative, and in 1999, Domaine Ricard was born. Today, their wines are enjoyed just as much in France as they are in Asheville!
Vincent also convinced the family to start farming according to the principles of biodynamics and organics, and today, the estate is certified organic. Vincent chose this path not for marketing purposes, but because through trial and error he became convinced that this type of farming led to healthier vineyards, better grapes, and most importantly, tastier wines.
I like his pragmatic approach to agriculture, and those aforementioned proclamations are fully evident in his 2023 Le Petiot. Produced from 35-40 year-old, south-facing vines located on the upper terraces of the Cher River, the soils found here are a mix of limestone, flint, and clay, much like you'd find in Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume. The only difference is price.....
All of this attention to detail is on full display in this wine. It leads with intense notes of white florals, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass. With time, air, and a bit of temperature, it enters another phase where richer notes of apricot, pink grapefruit, and fresh fennel arise. Crisp yet silky on the palate, it finishes fresh and long, with a nice kick of minerality. Bravo Vincent!
In case you hadn't noticed, Sancerre prices are through the roof. This wine is the solution to that problem.....for now. I predict that prices on Touraine Sauvignon Blancs of this impeccable quality will soon approach those of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.
Just 120 bottles up for grabs. You know what to do next!
