Sauvignon Blanc, 2020. Vincent Roussely

The winery is a former castle built 250 years ago to house royalty. Its walls are three feet thick. They probably don't build them like that anymore. Anatole Roussely purchased the castle in 1917 and converted it to its present state as a winery and distiller. It has been certified organic since 2007.

The winery is now run by Anatole's great grandson, Vincent, who took over from his father in 2001. The winery is in the Touraine region of the Loire Valley and is most famous for its Vouvray made from Chenin Blanc. However, it is the Sauvignon Blanc from here that puts smiles on all the faces as it can compare favorably to the more famous regions of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, yet cost much less.

The Loire stretches from West to East and takes up approximately 200 miles of space. Yet, the Loire River is 600 miles of undulating stretches meandering through the region. It is almost as famous for the castles which line the river, as does our Roussley, as it is for its wine.

Vincent is not just organic in his philosophy. He is intent on preserving the ecosystem of the vineyard by creating natural animal and plant habitats that are of beneficial significance. For instance, he uses no tractors to till the soil, but horse-drawn plows. Obviously, this detail is evident in the wine. The bright stone fruit mixes with the minerality and citrus to provide a sensory extravaganza. The finish begs for oysters on the half shell or shrimp scampi.

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