2015 Les Chardons Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Touraine < Loire < France 
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc 
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic, schist/flinty rock soil
Winemaker: Thierry Chardon

Touraine is a larger appellation that lacks the prestige of its neighbor Sancerre, which means there are great values and hidden gems if you dig.  Domaine Chardon, an organic family winery run by husband and wife, Thierry and Sophie, is definitely both a gem and a value.  Thierry grew up on a vineyard in Touraine where his family had made wine for generations, but his father was forced to sell the vineyard.  Thierry and Sophie moved to the city where Thierry became a fire fighter, but eventually they decided to move their family back to Touraine and try to buy a vineyard.  Certified organic since the late 2000’s, they since been quietly making a few stellar, low-intervention wines ever since. Like this bright and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, which is textbook Loire SB, with grapefruit, honeysuckle and grassy notes, driven by acidity, an intriguing salty minerality on the finish. If you like Sancerre, you’ll love this wine. If you like Sancerre, you’ll love this wine. And love it even more because it is clean, certified organic and a great value.