Jasnières

The Jasnières appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC), recognized by decree in 1937, is an appellation in the Loire Valley whose production area covers two communes in the department of Sarthe: Lhomme and Ruillé-sur-Loir. The Jasnières vineyard covers an area of approximately 65 hectares within the Coteaux du Loir appellation, with which it forms the northernmost appellation in the Loire Valley. Developed by Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages, celebrated by Henry IV and meticulously mapped under Louis XIV, the vineyard has enjoyed a renaissance in quality coupled with a profound resurgence of public interest since the 1970s. High-quality estates such as Domaine de Bellivière are no strangers to this.

The Jasnières vineyard is planted on soft Turonian chalk, also known as tuffeau, which has broken down into flinty clay, creating steep, very stony soils that are difficult to work but provide ideal conditions for vines to flourish. Protected by the Bercé forest to the north and benefiting from adjacent valleys and south-facing slopes, the vineyard enjoys a temperate Touraine climate, with numerous microclimates.

The Jasnières appellation produces exclusively white wines made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety, also known as "Pineau de la Loire" or "Pineau Blanc": a vigorous and fairly productive grape variety that produces white grapes with tightly packed berries that take on a beautiful golden color when ripe. Jasnières wines are renowned as some of the best dry whites in France, characterized by flinty aromas that vary in intensity depending on the vintage or cru. They are enriched with notes of bark, honey, acacia, and hawthorn. They also have a remarkable ability to age for decades, even more than a century. Jasnières wine has been described as the youngest of the old wines, because after 10 or 20 years in the bottle, it reaches its peak while remaining very lively. Depending on the year and the degree of ripeness of the grapes, Jasnières produces wines with varying levels of residual sugar, which allows them to be classified as sweet, semi-dry or dry.

A brief history of Jasnières wines with controlled designation of origin

Jasnières wine is conceived, developed, and discovered exclusively on an estate overlooking the Sarthe River. The cultivation area is clearly defined, on a single south-facing slope only 4 km long. The Jasnières appellation is an AOC included in the Coteaux-du-Loir. This vineyard has been rooted in the Loire region for over 70 years. This exceptional estate is home to the Chenin Blanc grape variety. Chenin Blanc is the only grape variety authorized for Jasnières wines. The result is a dry, fruity wine with a strong minerality of flint and surprising longevity.

Nose: The range of aromas is easily recognizable on the nose. Notes of acacia, citrus, apricot, and hawthorn can be detected. These notes are generally found every time you smell a glass of Jasnières wine. The aroma of this wine is very pleasant and naturally invites you to taste it.

Palate: Jasnières wine is straightforward on the palate. At first, you may be surprised by its harshness. Then, a pleasant sensation of freshness emerges. A balance is then achieved between the roundness of the first impression and the sweetness of the finish. The finish is reminiscent of the fruit notes detected on the nose.