Herve Villemade 'La Bodice' 2023 Loire Valley, France

Style 😋: Dry and elegant white with medium body and crisp energy. Opens with bright aromas of grapefruit, white flowers, and wet stone. The palate delivers focused citrus, green apple, and subtle mineral notes with refreshing acidity and a little texture from aging in old oak barrels.

Grape 🍇: 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay

Place 🌎: Loire Valley, France

Producer 🍷: Hervé Villemade

Story 📖: Hervé Villemade has tended his family’s vines in Cellettes since 1995. When he first took over, the estate used conventional farming and winemaking, but Hervé was soon inspired by natural winemakers like Marcel Lapierre. Coping with a growing allergy to sulfur, he converted the estate to organic viticulture in 2000. Hervé now farms around 22 hectares organically in Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny appellations and also sources grapes locally through his négociant license.

La Bodice is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from a single vineyard. The grapes are direct pressed before fermenting and aging in demi-muids and old oak barrels. This wine expresses both the freshness of Sauvignon Blanc and the roundness of Chardonnay with a mineral complexity rooted in the Loire terroir.

Pairing 🍽: Seared sea bass with fennel and a lemon-caper vinaigrette