Domaine des Forges Le Moulin de Gue Savennieres 2023

Domaine de Forges has been a family-owned producer for five generations. Although his father, Claude, can still be found pottering around the cellar, the current success of this estate and the quality of the wines is down to his son, Stéphane and his wife, Séverine. Their 50 hectares of HVE-certified sustainably farmed vines include 30 hectares of Chenin Blanc, of which seven are located on the steep slopes of the Chaumes and a one-hectare parcel in the Loire’s only Grand Cru: the prestigious Quarts de Chaume. They also own three separate plots in Savennières, including the original in the sandy schist site of Moulin du Gué and one hectare in the cru Roche aux Moines. Yields are kept extremely low, at 25 hl/ha. As a result of this complex network of terroirs, the wines have a richness and intensity that clearly show the world-class potential of this style of Chenin Blanc.

The grapes come from the mineral terroir in the prestigious cru of le Moulin de Gue, where the 1.5-hectare plot is situated on schist and carboniferous soils that mark some of the finest parcels of the region. The schist retains heat, encouraging ripening in this cool northern climate. The vineyard is sustainably cultivated; the vineyards are grassed between the rows, with green harvesting and summer thinning to ensure the grapes are exposed to the sunshine to ensure ripening. The harvest is picked in three triages to select only the ripest and highest quality fruit.