The actual product may vary from the images shown on the website.
Sweet sweet
This is a wine of remarkable maturity and historic character, showcasing Moulin Touchais’ extraordinary ability to craft sweet wines capable of ageing gracefully for decades while retaining their vitality. Today, the 1987 vintage stands as a compelling example of how time transforms ‘Chenin Blanc’: primary fruit aromas have evolved into complex layers of maturity, while sweetness and acidity have integrated into a seamless and harmonious whole. This is a wine that speaks more of elegance and complexity than of youthful fruit intensity.
The bouquet is dominated by aromas of dried apricot, quince paste, orange marmalade, and chestnut honey. Extended ageing has revealed additional notes of beeswax, dried flowers, toasted almonds, caramelised citrus peel, and subtle spices. On the palate, the wine is smooth, silky in texture, and remarkably harmonious. Flavours of mature fruits, honey, and dried citrus intertwine with vibrant acidity, which keeps the wine lively and precise. The finish is long, complex, and elegantly mineral.
The wine is made from hand-harvested ‘Chenin Blanc’ grapes picked in several passes through the vineyard to achieve the ideal balance between ripeness, acidity, and sweetness. Moulin Touchais traditionally harvests part of the crop earlier, while leaving the remainder on the vine for longer ripening. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, preserving the purity and precision of the variety. The wine is then aged for decades in the estate’s cellars before release.
Today, the 1987 vintage has reached a beautiful stage of mature harmony. Over nearly four decades, the wine has developed an intricate aromatic profile and refined texture while retaining the freshness that is one of the defining hallmarks of great Coteaux du Layon wines. It is a rare opportunity to experience a mature ‘Chenin Blanc’ crafted for a lifetime of evolution.
Best served at 11–13°C. An excellent match for foie gras, blue cheeses, tarte tatin, nut-based desserts, and aged hard cheeses.
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.
