Alice Berthier, Coteaux du Giennois (Loire Valley, France) 2023 ($23, Mary Taylor Wine)

Sauvignon Blancs from the Loire Valley are among the most distinctive renditions of that grape. Sancerre is the best-known appellation for Sauvignon wines, and has gained considerable popularity in recent vintages. The Coteaux du Geinnois, although it shares the same soil types and grape varieties as Sancerre, does not have the same recognition or price. Alice Berthier’s 2023 Coteaux du Geinnois Sauvignon Blanc shows a delicious combination of exuberant fruit and the distinctive herbal complexity of Loire Sauvignon. It offers grapefruit, lemon and green apple fruit scents followed by floral and herbal elements. The flavors of mouthwatering grapefruit and green apple fruits are enhanced by the classic herbal snap of the appellation. It is a superb companion for many fish and shellfish recipes as well as a classic match for goat cheeses.
90 Wayne Belding