When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre is the gold standard. While we adore Sancerre, when we want to pull the cork on a more value-driven Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, we turn to the wines of Touraine. The “Les Malles” Sauvignon Blanc from Guy Allion is another terrific Sancerre stand in!
While the Loire may not immediately come to mind as a hot-bed of Rosé production, it’s a region that should be on the radar of all Rosé lovers. The cooler growing temperatures and the mineral-laden soil help to keep the region’s Rosé fresh and lifted.
Domaine Guy Allion has been in the Allion family for four generations, and each helped to expand and improve the quality of the Domaine. Through the 1960s, the family cultivated the estate in polyculture, and like most farms in Touraine, they grew grapes along with vegetables, and livestock. By 1970, the Guy Allion chose to devote the property entirely to viticulture, and in 1991 his son Cédric took over the estate.
Their property follows the gentle hillside slopes on the Cher River’s right bank, just across from the communes of Thesée and Monthou-sur-Cher. The vineyards have desirable southwest to southeast exposure and are planted on shallow clay-limestone mixed with flint.
The area around the villages of Thesée and Oisly on the Cher has an excellent reputation for Sauvignon Blanc. Like the neighboring regions of Sancerre and Menetou-Salon to the east, the grape ripens slowly here, giving it beautiful aromatics often reminiscent of exotics fruits. Gamay Noir is also particularly well suited to the Loire, and the Domaine produces lovely reds in addition to the Rosé.
