Champalou Les Fondraux Vouvray 2023

Wine Type: White
Style: Off-dry Loire Chenin Blanc; floral, mineral-driven, textured, elegant, age-worthy
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Vouvray AOC
Country: France
Region: Vouvray, Loire Valley
Producer: Domaine Champalou
Winemaker: Catherine & Didier Champalou, with their daughter Céline Champalou
Vineyard: Les Fondraux, a single-vineyard parcel in Vouvray, with mature Chenin Blanc vines
Soil: Clay-limestone over tuffeau bedrock
Farming: Sustainable vineyard practices; hand-harvested; minimal-intervention winemaking
Alcohol: Not confirmed for the 2023 vintage
Fermentation: Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts
Aging: Aged on fine lees in stainless steel and neutral vessels to develop texture while preserving freshness
Food Pairings: Roast chicken, pork with apples, seared scallops, spicy Thai cuisine, foie gras, aged Comté, washed-rind cheeses, roasted squash

Tasting Note:
Champalou’s 2023 “Les Fondraux” is a beautifully expressive Vouvray that balances Chenin Blanc’s natural richness with vibrant acidity and mineral precision. Ripe pear, quince, yellow apple, white peach, honeysuckle, and subtle honeyed notes lead into a layered, gently rounded palate. A touch of residual sugar adds generosity and texture, while bright acidity and a distinctive limestone minerality keep the wine fresh and focused. Elegant and beautifully balanced, with a long, saline finish and the structure to develop gracefully over time.

About the Producer:
Domaine Champalou is one of Vouvray’s most respected family estates, founded in 1983 by Catherine and Didier Champalou. Today, their daughter Céline works alongside them, continuing the family’s commitment to meticulous vineyard management and traditional Loire Valley winemaking. The domaine is celebrated for its expressive Chenin Blanc, producing wines that range from dry to sweet and sparkling, all emphasizing freshness, balance, and the distinctive limestone-rich terroir of Vouvray. “Les Fondraux” is one of the estate’s signature single-vineyard bottlings, showcasing Chenin Blanc’s remarkable ability to combine gentle sweetness, mineral precision, and long aging potential.