Domaine de la Fontainerie Demi-Sec "Coteau Les Brûlés" 2022 AOC Vouvray 750mL

The Coteau Les Brûlés vineyard, meaning burned hills, is a tiny vineyard of 1.7ha sitting above the caves of the Domain. The vines are 45-50 years old. Catherine always uses old oak for this wine from barrels previously used for at least 4 vintages of La Fontainerie vineyard wines. 

With full southern aspect (hence the name burned hills), this is often one of the sweeter cuvées from the Domain, and the 2022 is true to style. It's an off-dry ("demi-sec") wine, with 21.8g/L of residual sugar (compare that to the bone dry 2000 vintage we import from the same vineyard with just 1.9g/L). The sugar is perfectly balanced by acid, fruit and alcohol.

Green apple, lemon custard, and a waxy orange blossom front the primary flavours, but as with all of the Fontainerie wines, there is a nutty character straight from the centuries old cave of the estate. It's more subtle in this younger wine but clearly present.

A delicious wine now that will age incredibly well.