Forges Coteaux du Layon Chaume 2023

Note: sweet wine. 

Coteaux du Layon is the largest of the sweet-wine appellations in the Loire Valley's Anjou district. All wines are made from Chenin Blanc grapes, which thrive on the schistous soils here. The quality of the area's sweet wines is due in large part to its topography – itself a result of the local river systems, including the Layon. Over the millennia the river has carved out gentle, south facing slopes and pockets of sheltered mesoclimates that protect the vineyards from cold continental winds blowing in from the north and east. In late summer, the morning mists rising from the river promote the development of botrytis. This is an essential ingredient in the best Coteaux du Layon wines. – Wine Searcher.

We tried this recently and it’s a joy to drink. Although not as sweet as Sauternes, this shares a lightness that the best producers there achieve. It’s rich in fruit but with a approachability aided by distinct lines of acid that keep the wine vibrant and awash with freshness. A great way to end a meal and a wine not drunk often enough. Ches Cook, Five Way Cellars.