Throwing it back to the kickoff of the holiday season and what we drank for Friendsgiving last month.  We pulled out this gem from our trip to the Loire Valley last October.  The 2014 Le Portail Vouvray from Domaine Champalou was even better than I remember. 

100% Chenin Blanc is grown on chalky soils and aged in 500 liter oak barrels.  The wine ages on the lees for 18 months with regular stirring prior to bottling, giving the wine an unctuous and creamy mouthfeel.  Flavors of citrus and kiwi finished off with a warm honeyed note.  Bright acidity kept it fresh, making it a lovely compliment to the rich turkey meal.  It continued to open up as it sat in the glass and came closer to room temp.  This is not a wine to serve super cold straight out of the fridge as you lose several nuances of flavor.

  According to Kermit Lynch, it’s the “most serious and age worthy” of Champalou’s dry wines….oops guess we should have held on to it a little bit longer. 

Wine:  2014 Domaine Champalou “Le Portail”
Purchased:  At the domaine
Price:  $38