2023 Alexandre Monmousseau - Vouvray Clos de Vigneau (750ml)

Château Gaudrelle is run by Alexandre Monmousseau, a fifth generation winemaker whose father Armand once headed the family's sparkling wine house in Montrichard. Trained in Beaune, Alexandre has become a leading figure in Vouvray's sec-tendre movement, a style bridging bone dry and off-dry expressions of Chenin Blanc, alongside peers such as Huet and Champalou. The Monmousseau family farms fourteen hectares around Vouvray, with six of those hectares dedicated to the historic Clos le Vigneau vineyard.

Clos le Vigneau takes its name from a single walled parcel in an area once called les Gués d'Amant, or Lover's Gap, where most vines were planted back in 1929. The old Chenin Blanc vines are farmed on the region's typical clay and limestone soils, giving the fruit concentration and depth despite modest yields. The wine is crafted in an off-dry style, a hallmark of the estate's approach, and built with enough structure to age gracefully for years after release.

The glass reveals notes of honey, apricot, and damp earth layered over ripe orchard fruit and a fine mineral edge. The palate stays lifted by bright acidity beneath its subtle sweetness, finishing long and textured. Try it with spiced Asian dishes, seared foie gras, or a soft blue cheese.