
The Trois Chênes cuvée is one of several Touraine Sauvignons that Vincent Ricard raises in barrel to impart complexity and roundness. It hails from a sloping plot of 30 year-old, due south-facing vines planted on classic Loire silex. Because the barrels are second and third use, they don't impart unwanted flavors, yet they do allow for a lush texture and complex secondary attributes to develop. If you think Touraine is limited to the production of simple, acidic, "steely" Sauvignon, give this a whirl. Organic.