Patrick Noël Menetou-Salon Blanc (75cl, 12.5%)

Patrick Noël Menetou-Salon Blanc is a 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Menetou-Salon appellation in France's Loire Valley, in a 750ml bottle at 12.5% ABV. It comes from a single southwest-facing 2.5-hectare parcel near Humbligny, 17 kilometres southwest of Sancerre. The grapes are destemmed, crushed and pressed, with only free-run juice retained; the must is decanted in a refrigerated tank before a long, cool fermentation of three to four weeks. The wine is racked once and left on its fine lees in enameled stainless-steel tanks until bottling the following spring or summer. The nose shows boxwood, green herbs, struck flint, grapefruit peel and white flowers. The palate is fresh and brisk, with ripe citrus, peach, savory herbs and firm acidity. The finish is medium in length with exotic candied fruit and flinty minerality.