1jour1vin

Alphonse Mellot - Les Pénitents Chardonnay 2016

Loire

White

Sold individually

Drink or Keep

Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5
4.1/5 (8 customers)

14,5/20

Bettane & Desseauve

chardonnay
freshness
citrus

"Tasted in barrels before bottling, this Chardonnay offers substance, fruit and drive, in a charming, agile juice". (Le Guide des Vins Bettanne & Desseauve) A deep-yellow cuvée made from Chardonnay vines growing on south-facing limestone soils. Its expressive nose reveals a beautiful aromatic intensity with scents of citrus and exotic fruit. Fine and well-balanced, the palate delivers lemony notes to end on a greedy, persistent finish. We're asking for more!

Features

Estate

Alphonse Mellot - La Moussière

Cuvée

Les Pénitents Chardonnay

Vintage

2016

Designation

IGP Côtes de la Charité

Region

Loire

Grape varieties

100% Chardonnay

Terroirs

South-facing entrobic limestone soils

Viticulture

Certified organic and biodynamic

Harvest

Manual in small cases

Winemaking

Traditional

Breeding

12 months, 1/3 in wooden vats, 1/3 in 600-litre barrels and 1/3 in concrete vats, then 4 months in blends

Alcohol content

13,7%

Organic

Yes

Tasting & pairing

Eye

Deep yellow with golden highlights

Nose

Expressive, with intense aromas of citrus and exotic fruit.

Mouth

Fine and balanced with lemony notes and a long, gourmet finish

Serve

At 10-12°C as an aperitif or for tasting and 12-14°C with food.

Open

1/4 hour before

Drink before

2023

Food and wine pairing

Food and wine pairing

Enjoy as an aperitif or with oysters, white meats, fish or dry goat's cheese...

Alphonse Mellot - La Moussière

IGP Côtes de la Charité

More information on IGP Côtes de la Charité

Expert opinion

Bettane & Desseauve

Bettane & Desseauve

Wine rated (2020 guide) 14.5/20 (Good wine)

Domaine rated (2024 guide) 5*Stars (Outstanding producers, those who represent the absolute pinnacle of quality in France and the world)

About the wine:

Tasted in barrels before bottling, this Chardonnay offers substance, fruit and liveliness, in a charming, agile juice.

About the domain :

Skillful winemaker Alphonse Mellot delivers a fascinating reading of Sancerre, with parcel-based cuvées that detail each terroir. The age of the vines, averaging 75 years, enables him to offer an impeccable range, the first step of which - the cuvée domaine - is already at the highest level. 18 hectares of IGP La Côte de la Charité also bear witness to his mastery of Chardonnay. We salute the work and inspiration of this tireless enthusiast, crowning more than 30 years of research and intransigence.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Domain rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)

About the domain :

Alphonse Mellot junior, the 19th generation of Sancerre's flagship domaine, owns 53 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines and offers a range of remarkably clear, elegant and refined single-vineyard Sancerre wines. Several of these wines - Edmond, Les Romains and Génération Dix-Neuf - are remarkable for their concentration, precision and expression. This year, I've broadened my notes a little, as I really felt differences in complexity between the wines, rather than just differences in style. Pinot noir enthusiasts should try Les Herses 2014.

Vinous A. Galloni

Vinous A. Galloni

Domain Rated Recommended

About the domain :

Founded in 1513, current estate keeper Alphonse Mellot is the 19th generation to run the family winery. The estate is located in the center of the village and boasts an extensive network of cellars. With 56 hectares of vineyards, Mellot produces Sancerre for supermarkets (the La Moussière cuvée, made from young vines, is stocked at Sainsbury's in the UK, for example) as well as top-level cuvées made from old vines, such as Cuvée Edmond, whose fruit comes from a 6-hectare plot of old vines within the 38-hectare La Moussière vineyard. The resulting style, fermented in wooden vats of varying sizes, is pure and precise, and manages to retain mouth-watering acidity even in hot vintages like 2018, 2019 and 2020. The flagship cuvée, Génération XIX, comes from a one-hectare parcel in La Moussière where the vines are on average almost 90 years old. Handled delicately, it is fermented in 900-liter vats, resulting in an exceptional, seductive Sauvignon with intense purity and a structure that will allow it to age gracefully. The estate also produces Pinot Noir: La Demoiselle comes from a rare flint terroir that gives it a smoky, spicy, firm style, while the limestone soils of the Le Paradis vineyard, which contributes to Génération XIX rouge, offer a more seductive elegance, while the clay portion of Chambrates offers softness and ease. Nor does Pinot skimp on quality oak. An early adopter of biodynamic viticulture, the estate has been certified since 1999.

Customer reviews

Customer rating

Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5Wine rated 4.1/5

4.1/5

on 8 reviews

Rated 5/5Rated 5/5Rated 5/5Rated 5/5Rated 5/5

Note and review by M. ANTOINE J. Published on 23/12/2023

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. HERVE D. Published on 21/09/2023

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. ETIENNE D. Published on 05/07/2021

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. CHRISTIAN M. Published on 21/06/2021

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. ERIC P. Published on 19/01/2021

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. CASARETTO F. Published on 23/11/2020

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. VINCENT C. Published on 11/09/2020

See all reviews from this customer

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

Note and review by M. PIERRE B. Published on 08/09/2020

See all reviews from this customer

Background

Buy your Alphonse Mellot wines at the best price on private sale!

19588 customer reviews
20€

Free on your 1st order*.