20843 customer reviews

Bertrand Minchin - Le Claux Delorme Valençay Rouge 2016

Name: Bertrand Minchin - Le Claux Delorme Valençay Red 2016
Brand: Domaines Minchin
Rating: 3.4 (21 reviews)

Valençay|Red wine

3.4/5 (21 customers)

2*Étoiles

Hachette

16/20

Bettane & Desseauve

"This Valençay reveals a flattering nose of black fruits and cherries in brandy. Round and full-bodied, supported by mellow, velvety tannins, the palate combines power and freshness and unfolds a long finish. Beautiful character and good potential. " (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2019). Claux Delorme's red Valençay combines the four grape varieties of the AOC, Gamay, Côt, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir, grown on flinty clay soil. They produce a complex, dense, and precise cuvée with very round fruit. Ideal for discovering this little-known appellation.

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Estate

Domaines Minchin

Vintage

2016

Designation

Valençay

Region

Loire

Grape varieties

40% Gamay, 30% Côt, 20%, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Pinot Noir

Terroirs

Flint clay in the subsoil, gravel cover on the surface of approximately 30 to 60 cm

Viticulture

Grass cover, the most environmentally friendly cultivation method possible. Bud removal, leaf removal, green harvesting if necessary. Yield: 45 hectoliters per hectare.

Grape harvest

Manuals

Wine making

Grape varieties are partially vinified separately, with cold pre-fermentation maceration and 30 days of fermentation in small vats (50 hectoliters).

Livestock farming

95% in vats. Only 5% of the Cabernet Franc and Cot are aged in barrels.

Alcohol content

12,5%

Eye

Garnet color, intense, purple highlights

Nose

Spicy nose, hints of mocha, aromas of violet, cherry, morello cherry, and blackberry

Mouth

Fine, rich, and fresh. Dense, fine tannins and beautifully ripe fruit.

Serve

Decant at 12-14°C

Drink from

2019

Drink before

2021

Food and wine pairings

À déguster sur des viandes grillées, un magret de canard, une daube de boeuf, des terrines ou pâtés, des fromages de brebis...<br/>

More information on Domaines Minchin

More information on Valençay

Bettane & Desseauve

Wine rated (2019 guide) 16/20 (Very good wine)

3-star rating (High-quality production, serving as a benchmark in its sector)

About the estate:

With 17 hectares, Bertrand Minchin, a cheerful and engaging winemaker, is one of the sure values of the Menetou-Salon and Valençay appellations. Over the years, he has refined the style of his reds, which are among the best in the region, and his imposing, structured whites have gained in precision. Superb value for money.

Guide Hachette des vins

Wine rating (2019 guide) 2 stars (Outstanding wine)

Rated estate (2025 guide) Mentioned (Successful wine)

About wine:

This Valençay reveals a flattering nose of black fruits and cherries in brandy. Round and full-bodied, supported by smooth, velvety tannins, the palate combines power and freshness and unfolds a long finish. A beautiful character and good potential.

About the estate:

A sure bet in the Menetou-Salon appellation with his Domaine La Tour Saint-Martin, Bertrand Minchin, equally at ease with reds and whites, has been established since 1987 at the head of 17 hectares of vineyards on the heights of Morogues, currently converting to organic farming. In 2004, he expanded into the Valençay appellation with the 15 hectares of Claux Delorme in Selles-sur-Cher, where he quickly established himself as a benchmark producer.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide to the Best Wines of France

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

Rated estate (2025 guide) Selected (Please note that this guide is a ranking and, as such, all the estates listed in it, even those without stars, represent, in our opinion, the excellence of French production.)

About the estate:

Bertrand Minchin is based in Morogues, in the Menetou-Salon appellation, with the La Tour Saint Martin estate, and also in Valençay (Claux Delorme) – two estates that are part of Domaines Minchin. The Valençays are lively and straightforward, while the Menetou-Salon wines are vinified with precision. The Sauvignons reflect the expression of their terroir thanks to careful craftsmanship, as do the skillfully crafted reds. The estate has been certified Organic since 2022.

Customer rating

3.4/5

based on 21 reviews

Review and opinion by Mr. PATRICE L. Published on 02/12/2023

This wine is wonderfully surprising, with subtle notes of red fruits such as redcurrants, cherries, and blackberries... BUT be careful, it needs to be aerated for THREE hours before drinking, as it is young and still contains a lot of CO2, which changes its taste! Otherwise, it's pure bliss... 2 stars in the Guide Hachette des Vins and 16/20 in Dessauve et Beltanne... for less than €8. I love it...