Le Rocher des Violettes Chenin Blanc, VdF, Loire Valley, France 2022

• Winemaker: Xavier Weisskopf
• Farming: Certified Organic by Ecocert
  
• Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Terroir: Sables Éoliens and Limon soils from High-density plantings of 80-year-old vines in the Les Borderies parcel; Limestone and silex with clay
• Vinification: Hand-harvested in small crates, fermentation using indigenous yeast, 70% in stainless steel tanks and 30% in 500L oak barrels; Aged for 6 months
• Aging: 6 months, 70% in stainless steel tanks, 30% in 500L oak barrels
• Tasting Note: This Chenin Blanc showcases a complex and lifted nose with aromas of jasmine tea, citrus, and white flowers. The palate is crisp, laser-focused, and delicately silky, making it a refreshing and refined expression of this historic variety.

From our 2024 Explore Like A Somm Bottle Club:

Le Rocher des Violettes, Chenin Blanc, Vin de France 2022
Xavier Weisskopf’s ambition to establish a winery began during his studies in Beaune, where he was introduced to and worked with some of France’s most respected winemakers, including a stint in the Rhône with Louis Barruol at Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas. His passion for Chenin Blanc eventually led him to the Loire Valley, specifically Montlouis-sur-Loire, a historic appellation that had been somewhat overlooked due to the popularity of neighboring Vouvray. This underappreciation gave him the opportunity to acquire 7 hectares of pre-war old vine parcels planted with Côt and Chenin Blanc. In 2005, at just 25 years old and full of grit, Xavier founded his domaine, Le Rocher des Violettes, in St. Martin le Beau, a commune near the Loire River.
Together with his wife, Clémence, they’ve focused on restoring old vines, digging a naturally cooled cellar into the local chalky limestone, and constructing a four-level winery that uses gravity to gently move the wine through the winemaking process.
This particular wine, his Vin de France Chenin Blanc, comes from 30-year-old vines rooted in the sandy, eolian soils of the Les Borderies parcel within Montlouis-sur-Loire. Compared to Vouvray, the other major Chenin-producing region located just across the Loire River, the terroir of Montlouis-sur-Loire yields wines that are crisp, vibrant, and highly mineral-driven, often with a leaner body. In contrast, the richer, fuller-bodied Chenin Blancs of Vouvray are influenced by a higher proportion of tuffeau soils. Though Montlouis-sur-Loire, like Vouvray, can produce wines in off-dry and sweet styles, this Chenin Blanc is a bone-dry expression of the terroir. While many of Xavier's wines carry the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC designation, this one is labeled as Vin de France to allow for greater flexibility in winemaking. This freedom enables him to showcase the unique characteristics of the Les Borderies parcel without the constraints of AOC regulations. He also produces an off-dry version of this Chenin, labeled "Les Borderies," under the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC.
This Chenin Blanc is fermented using indigenous yeasts, with 70% of the fermentation taking place in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness, while 30% occurs in large 500L oak barrels to add texture and depth. The wine is then aged for 6 months, striking a perfect balance between vibrant acidity and subtle complexity.
On the nose, this Chenin Blanc opens with a delicate bouquet of jasmine tea, meyer lemon zest, and crisp green apple, layered with white flowers like honeysuckle and orange blossom. Soft notes of dried chamomile and wet stone lead into a palate that is crisp and laser-focused. This Chenin is so dry and crisp, it pairs beautifully with the classic local goat cheese Crottin de Chavignol, or seafood dishes like seared scallops with lemon butter, hamachi crudo, or grilled asparagus with lemon and parmesan. —Cara Patricia