2024 Champalou Vouvray
The 2024 Champalou Vouvray is a beautiful dry Chenin Blanc we just tasted from one of the top reference addresses in the appellation. Founded in 1983 by Catherine and Didier Champalou, both of whom have deep local roots (Catherine is the 12th generation winemaker in Vouvray, Didier the 6th generation on his side) and a clear house philosophy of letting each terroir speak through dedicated cuvées. Fruit is picked early in the morning and pressed immediately to retain freshness and purity, then fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures, and kept on fine lees in tank for roughly eleven months before bottling, giving it a classic Vouvray texture without any oak signature. 2024 in the Loire was a challenging, with rains causing mildew, but the best growers kept fruit clean and heavily sorted, delivering wines with striking purity and freshness, and Champalou’s dry Vouvray is exactly that: a bracing, mineral-driven Chenin that is drinking beautifully on release Bright and dry, with green apple, pear, and lemon zest over a clear chalky, mineral line. Crisp acidity and a light saline finish keep it precise and food-friendly, with enough concentration and structure last over the next 3-5 years. We tasted this alongside wines 2 to 3 times the price, and it was our favorite, completely overdelivering for the category, and is an easy case buy at this special low pricing and perfect for the warmer days ahead!
Description
The 2024 Champalou Vouvray is a beautiful dry Chenin Blanc we just tasted from one of the top reference addresses in the appellation. Founded in 1983 by Catherine and Didier Champalou, both of whom have deep local roots (Catherine is the 12th generation winemaker in Vouvray, Didier the 6th generation on his side) and a clear house philosophy of letting each terroir speak through dedicated cuvées. Fruit is picked early in the morning and pressed immediately to retain freshness and purity, then fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures, and kept on fine lees in tank for roughly eleven months before bottling, giving it a classic Vouvray texture without any oak signature. 2024 in the Loire was a challenging, with rains causing mildew, but the best growers kept fruit clean and heavily sorted, delivering wines with striking purity and freshness, and Champalou’s dry Vouvray is exactly that: a bracing, mineral-driven Chenin that is drinking beautifully on release Bright and dry, with green apple, pear, and lemon zest over a clear chalky, mineral line. Crisp acidity and a light saline finish keep it precise and food-friendly, with enough concentration and structure last over the next 3-5 years. We tasted this alongside wines 2 to 3 times the price, and it was our favorite, completely overdelivering for the category, and is an easy case buy at this special low pricing and perfect for the warmer days ahead!
