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Sweet sweet
One of the most highly regarded wines of Coteaux du Layon, this wine perfectly reflects the unique philosophy of Moulin Touchais, where sweetness is always balanced by remarkable acidity and exceptional longevity. The 2003 vintage stands out for its extraordinary concentration, shaped by an exceptionally hot and sunny growing season in the Loire Valley. These conditions produced a wine of greater richness, depth, and ripeness, while preserving the elegance that defines the finest expressions of ‘Chenin Blanc’.
The bouquet reveals aromas of ripe peach, quince, dried apricot, orange marmalade, and acacia honey. Extended ageing has added further layers of beeswax, toasted nuts, chamomile, and delicate spice notes. On the palate, the wine is concentrated and silky in texture, yet remains vibrant thanks to its refreshing acidity. Flavours of ripe stone fruits, tropical fruits, and citrus are beautifully intertwined with hints of honey and minerality, leading to a long, harmonious finish where sweetness and freshness are perfectly balanced.
The wine is produced from hand-harvested ‘Chenin Blanc’ grapes picked in several passes through the vineyard to achieve the ideal balance between natural sweetness and acidity. Moulin Touchais traditionally harvests part of the crop earlier to preserve freshness, while the remaining grapes are left to ripen further on the vine. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, preserving the purity and fruit character of the variety. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for many years in the estate’s cellars before being released to the market.
The 2003 vintage is considered one of the most distinctive and concentrated harvests of the early 21st century in the Loire Valley. The exceptionally warm summer produced highly ripe grapes, resulting in a wine with greater richness and intensity than cooler vintages. Nevertheless, the naturally high acidity that characterises Moulin Touchais wines ensures outstanding balance and allows this wine to continue evolving gracefully for decades to come.
Best served at 10–12°C. An excellent match for foie gras, blue cheeses, and apple or pear-based desserts.
Moulin Touchais – A Legend of Coteaux du Layon and Master of Chenin Blanc
Moulin Touchais is one of the oldest and most respected wineries in the Loire Valley. The estate was founded in 1787 in Doué-la-Fontaine, in the Anjou region, and has been owned by the Touchais family for more than eight generations. It is a true example of tradition and longevity. The winery is renowned for its exceptionally long-aged sweet Coteaux du Layon wines made from Chenin Blanc grapes.
Moulin Touchais wines are aged for a minimum of 10 years in underground cellars before being released to the market, while the best vintages can age gracefully for 30–50+ years. This philosophy allows the wines to achieve remarkable harmony, complexity, and incredible freshness even after several decades.
Terroir and Vineyards
The vineyards are situated on the best slopes of Coteaux du Layon (in Tigné, Martigné-Briand, and Maligné areas) on clay-limestone soils. The autumn microclimate, with morning mist and sunny afternoons, creates ideal conditions for the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). The winery works exclusively with selected plots and follows sustainable viticulture practices.
Winemaking Style
Moulin Touchais produces classic, elegant, and extremely long-ageing sweet Chenin Blanc wines. They are distinguished by a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness, along with rich notes of dried fruits, honey, nuts, and minerality. These wines pair beautifully not only with desserts but also with foie gras, blue cheeses, or as a meditative wine.
It is one of the few wineries in the world able to offer such an extensive collection of old vintages, perfectly illustrating the legendary longevity of Chenin Blanc and the greatness of Loire Valley terroir.
