Domaine du Salvard Vin De France Le Petit Salvard 2021

Made by two fifth generation, quality-conscious brothers, this is a dry white from the Cheverny region in the Loire Valley, and is made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The complex soils of deep limestone and chalk give this white incredible complexity and Loire terroir from 22 year old vines. Domaine du Salvard has been a working domaine since 1898 in the Delaille family. Today, all forty-two hectares of vineyards are farmed by the capable brother team of Emmanuel and Thierry Delaille, with help from their father Gilbert. To our delight, they have carried on the traditions established by their ancestors, producing a true, classic whites from Cheverny that are both simple and complex, elegant and refined. The Delaille brothers have focused their attention on growing fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc, deeply rooted in northeastern Touraine. Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cot constitute their red grape holdings, creating youthful reds with great aromatics.

Until finally achieving A.O.C. status in 1993, Cheverny was widely regarded as one of the best V.D.Q.S. (Vin de Qualité Superieur) of the Loire. However, some argue that this A.O.C.-in-waiting designation was a political maneuver by the I.N.A.O. to keep Cheverny’s delicious, sprightly Sauvignon Blanc out of competition with the other more famous appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Kermit was the first to discover the charm and value of Cheverny back in 1978 when he imported the Domaine Jean Gueritte. He took on the Cheverny of Domaine du Salvard in 1992, a year before the status change in the appellation.