2024 Domaine Chauveau - Pouilly Fume Les CroqSilex (750ml)

Domaine Chauveau has cultivated Sauvignon Blanc in the upper Loire for generations, with long held parcels spread across Pouilly-Fumé, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Coteaux du Giennois, and Sancerre. Benoît Chauveau took over his parents' vines in the mid-1990s, and together with his wife Emmanuelle he has since built the domaine's international reputation while remaining rooted in the small village of Saint-Andelain. Chauveau is known as a discreet but deeply skilled vigneron, focused on letting the region's distinctive terroir speak clearly through each bottling.

Croq Silex, meaning crunchy flint, draws its name from the flint rich, siliceous clay soils of Pouilly-Fumé that give Sauvignon Blanc from this appellation its signature smoky, gunflint character. The grapes are sustainably farmed and harvested from vines with real age behind them, then cool fermented and rested on the lees in stainless steel for five to eight months, a process that builds textural depth without introducing any oak influence. The result is a wine that channels the same limestone and flint terroir found across the river in Sancerre, at a notably gentler price.

The glass offers fresh white blossom, green apple, and grapefruit alongside a distinct wet stone minerality. On the palate, zesty acidity carries citrus, salinity, and a persistent flinty edge through a silky, smooth finish. Its bright, mineral driven style pairs naturally with grilled fish, fresh oysters, or a tangy goat cheese.