“The whites of Pouilly-Fumé, even more so than their Sancerre neighbors, are criminally undervalued. This modestly priced masterwork is a prime example—it's built to thrill both now and over the five-plus years!” Ian Cauble, Master Sommelier. If the last name sounds familiar that is because Serge Dagueneau and his daughter, Valerie, are the uncle and cousin, respectively, of the famed vintner Didier Dagueneau.
Perhaps overshadowed by his fame… or perhaps because people see the name and immediately think “There’s no way I can afford this,” Serge’s wines have not garnered similar attention.
Well, not until the 2016 vintage when his two top-end wines, now made by his three daughters, garnered staggering 94 and 93 pt reviews in the Wine Enthusiast! But after a brief run on inventory, we are back where we started, with this Dagueneau family’s incredible wines flying under the radar.
Put it all together and you have a wine that is seriously under-appreciated. Which means value. And a deal for you!
Here we have the Les Pentes cuvee hand-harvested from a parcel of 55 year-old vines growing in Kimmeridgian marl. This “Terres blanches” or “white earth” is the same famed soil of Chablis and is the source for the wines opulence and complexity. The Dageuneau sisters focus on harvesting the grapes when physiologically ripe, ignoring the sommelier-driven fashion for austere, barely ripe wines. Good for them, because this gem is stunning!
Exotic aromas of passion fruit, litchi and mango intertwine with acacia and other floral notes, and a flinty, almost smoky, minerality. This intensity carries over to the lush, creamy-texture and complex citrus and mineral flavors that build sip after sip. This is no aperitif Sauv Blanc, folks! The perfect balance of fruit, body, minerals and acidity makes this a wonderful match with grilled fish, chicken and a slew of other goodies! The Kimmeridgian limestone gives the wine its rustic qualities of smoke, spicy pear, melon and lemon zest. An assertive wine that should breath a new confidence into the Sauvignon Blancs coming out of the Loire.