2023 Clement & Florian Berthier, Coteaux du Giennois Blanc

Brothers Clément and Florian Berthier, fifth-generation growers, champion a terroir-first philosophy for their Coteaux du Giennois Sauvignon Blanc, organically farming their vineyards, certified since 2022. Situated on the Loire's north bank, their parcels are rooted in the appellation's distinct silex, limestone, and marl soils, which impart varied mineral expressions to the wine. The 2023 vintage in the Central Loire, despite early climatic challenges, benefited from a critical dry, warm September, leading to fruit with excellent physiological ripeness and preserved acidity. Extended lees aging further refines this Sauvignon Blanc, presenting a wine of remarkable tension and pronounced freshness, defined by its precise structural balance and intrinsic minerality, rather than overt varietal aromatics.