The appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé lead the litany of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs, but Sauvignon is grown successfully in other Loire sites as well. The appellation of Cheverny lies in Touraine, to the west of Sancerre, and is becoming recognized for its high-quality Sauvignon Blanc wines. The Delaille family has owned the Domaine du Salvard for five generations and blends in a bit of Chardonnay to make their excellent Cheverny Blanc. The 2020 bottling shows a wonderful combination of exuberant fruit and the distinctive herbal snap of Loire Sauvignon. It offers lemon, grapefruit and green apple fruit scents are followed by hints of honeysuckle and fresh herbs. The flavors of mouthwatering citrus and apple fruits are backed by subtle floral and herbal hints. The finish is pure, clean and dry. If you like the style of Sancerrre, give this superb Cheverny a try.
Domaine du Salvard, Cheverny (Loire Valley, France) 2020
By Wayne Belding