Domaine Vincent Ricard Touraine Blanc “Les Trois Chênes” 2023 | Touraine, Loire Valley

The Wine

More layered and serious than “Le Petiot”, “Les Trois Chênes” means “The Three Oaks”, named after the site’s landmark trees. The palate is full of ripe citrus, white peach and chalky minerality making it really textural. Sourced from old south-facing limestone and clay slopes beside the Cher River, including Sauvignon Blanc vines planted just after WWII, dating back to 1947, with slow barrel fermentation adding subtle breadth 

The Producer

Vincent Ricard’s father founded the co-operative of Oisly-Thesée in 1958, and Vincent was a member there before deciding to set up on his own in 1999, having worked with Philippe Alliet in Chinon where he learned all about organic practices, and Claude Levasseur (Francois Chidaine’s uncle) in Montlouis. He has 15ha of well-placed south-facing vineyards on upper terraces of the Cher river (45 minutes from Tours) where the soil
comprises of a mix of limestone and clay. Vincent works with low yields, hand harvests, uses indigenous yeasts for the fermentation and ages around 20% of his wine in older barrels for a little extra texture.

Vincent produces an excellent example of Touraine Sauvignon that would give many Sancerre more than a run for their money.