Score : 89/100
Reuilly is a village located about 200 km (125 miles) South of Paris, just West of the city of Bourges, and a relatively unknown wine appellation of the Central Loire Valley region.
Neighboring the other wine producing village of Quincy, the area makes primarily Sauvignon Blanc wines on limestone-marls soils, in a similar style to the Sancerre whites, if generally with a little less minerality and elegance.
Here, Domaine Jean-Michel Sorbe now owned by famous Sancerre producer Domaine Joseph Mellot, is one of the most thought-after name as far as wine is concerned.
After pressing, this 2015 vintage was fermented at controlled temperature around 18°C in stainless steel tanks, then aged on its less for about 4 months.
No oak or wine barrels are used here, to maintain the pure expression of the fruit.
So how good is this 2015 Jean-Michel Sorbe Reuilly ?
The answer is in the tasting notes:
This French Sauvignon Blanc comes in a lemon-yellow color of medium intensity, a touch of green hues, elegant.
The nose though, has much intensity and power, as I guess you’d expect from a good Sauv Blanc!
It’s very fresh and fruity with loads of citrus notes, lemon and some grapefruit, but also slightly tropical with fresh pineapple and a little passion fruit. Some grassy spiciness lifts the aroma up without affecting the overall fruitiness and appeal of the smell.
The palate is extremely balanced, with the typical Sauvignon Blanc crisp and slightly biting acidity. There are some green tannins to the finish that are biting as well.
But there is so much flavor intensity, solid body and a coating oily texture that it all comes down beautifully in a light relaxed manner.
Flavors submerge your palate with sensations that are there to stay for a while, as this has quite a long finish.
Loads of jammy lemon, like marmalade, complemented with the pineapple and passion fruit, make it feel juicy and deliciously sweet/fruity.
Yet, it’s very fresh with hints of grassiness!
A touch of salty minerality provides a lean driving sensation to the whole palate.
The finish is a little soapy and somewhat a little rustic. This is the only low side in this wine, a character you often get from heavier soils (with some clay and loam) than the pure limestone ones.
But the winemaking and the expression of the terroir in this wine are faultless. You get the impression you are tasting and feeling the pure fruit, magnified by the vinification.
A pure expression of its terroir.
A stunning wine for a relatively unknown appellation. A great example of what knowledgeable vine growers and winemakers can do when they’re serious about what they’re doing and know they stuff.
Well done Joseph Mellot team.
A wine to recommend with no hesitation: a wine to experience…
Cheers 🙂
See what the wine really looks like in video
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