Bertrand Minchin - Le Claux Delorme Valençay Red 2016

Bertrand Minchin - Le Claux Delorme Valençay Rouge 2016

Valençay|Red wine

3.4/5 (21 customers)

2*Étoiles

Hachette

16/20

Bettane & Desseauve

“This Valençay reveals a pleasing nose of black fruits and cherries soaked in brandy. Round and full-bodied, supported by smooth, velvety tannins, the palate combines power and freshness and unfolds into a long finish. It has a beautiful character and good aging potential.” (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2019). Claux Delorme’s red Valençay blends the four AOC grape varieties—Gamay, Côt, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir—grown on a flinty clay terroir. They produce a complex, dense, and precise cuvée with very round fruit. Ideal for discovering this underrated 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, with a surface layer of gravel approximately 30 to 60 cm thick

Viticulture

Grass cover, the most environmentally friendly cultivation method possible. Bud removal, leaf removal, and green harvesting as needed. Yield: 45 hl/ha

Grape Harvest

Manuals

Winemaking

Some of the grape varieties are vinified separately; cold pre-fermentation maceration; 30-day fermentation in small tanks (50 hl)

Livestock farming

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

Alcohol content

12,5%

Eye

Garnet color, intense, with purple highlights

Nose

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

Palate

Delicate, rich, and fresh. Dense, refined 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 at Domaines Minchin

More information at Valençay

Bettane & Desseauve

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

Rated 3 stars (A high-quality product that serves as a benchmark in its sector)

About the estate:

With 17 hectares, Bertrand Minchin—a cheerful and engaging winemaker—is a standout producer in the Menetou-Salon and Valençay appellations. With each vintage, he refines the style of his reds, which rank among the best in the region, while his full-bodied, structured whites continue to gain in precision. Excellent value for money.

Guide Hachette des vins

Wine rated (2019 guide) 2** stars (Outstanding wine)

Rated estate (2025 guide) Mentioned (Successful wine)

About the wine:

This Valençay offers an enticing nose of black fruits and cherries soaked in brandy. Round and full-bodied, supported by smooth, velvety tannins, the palate combines power and freshness and unfolds into a long finish. It has a beautiful character and good aging potential.

About the estate:

A trusted name in the Menetou-Salon appellation with his Dom. la Tour Saint-Martin, Bertrand Minchin—equally at home with reds and whites—has been at the helm of 17 hectares of vineyards on the hills above Morogues since 1987, currently in the process of 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 leading producer.

RVF - The French Wine Review / 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 here—even those without a star—represent, in our view, the pinnacle of French winemaking.)

About the estate:

Bertrand Minchin is based in Morogues, a Menetou-Salon appellation, with the La Tour Saint Martin estate, and also in Valençay (Claux Delorme)—two estates that together form Domaines Minchin. The Valençay wines are lively and straightforward; the Menetou-Salon vintages are vinified with precision. The Sauvignons reflect the character of their terroir thanks to meticulous 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 by Mr. PATRICE L. Posted on 02/12/2023

This wine is wonderfully surprising, with delicate, subtle notes of red fruits—redcurrants, cherries, blackberries... BUT be careful: you must let it breathe for THREE hours before drinking it. It’s young and still contains a lot of CO2, which changes its taste! Otherwise, it’s pure magic... 2 stars in the Guide Hachette des vins and 16/20 in Dessauve et Beltanne....for less than €8 I love it...