In the heart of the Loire hills, the Domaine Moncourt, Roche Noire 2025, Coteaux du Layon AOP celebrates the most delicate expression of sweet Chenin Blanc. Shaped by late harvest and careful grape selection, it unveils a refined sweetness that never feels heavy, sustained by crystalline freshness. The mineral thread of the terroir, where flint and clay-limestone meet, brings a discreet saline lift that balances the natural sweetness of the Layon. This cuvée is aimed at those seeking an elegant wine for reflection, able to dress the table in golden light and accompany the most subtle cuisine. Between caress and tension, it resolves the eternal equation of pleasure, uniting indulgence and integrity, perfume and purity, within a register of high elegance.

Blend and winemaking

Made from Chenin Blanc 100%, this Coteaux du Layon sweet wine comes from late-harvest grapes and successive manual sorting, ensuring only berries at ideal ripeness are retained. A direct pressing preserves the integrity of the fruit, followed by a 24-hour settling to clarify the juices. The fermentation, controlled between 15 and 20°C, gently builds aromatic precision, while the 9-month ageing on fine lees in tank polishes the material, giving a silky texture and subtle complexity. The flint and clay-limestone soils sign the finish with a mineral vibration and savoury length, guaranteeing a balance that will endure over the years. Roundness, freshness and uprightness compose a coherent score here, where every cellar gesture aims for clarity of style and mid-palate persistence.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Pale golden, bright, with luminous highlights that catch the light like a moiré fabric. The viscosity hints at a caressing texture, unassuming, promising a generous mouthfeel supported by precise freshness.
• Nose: Refined bouquet of ripe white and stone fruits where juicy pear, candied quince and apricot meet light honeyed notes, floral infusion and gently candied citrus. A hint of beeswax and a stony minerality bring depth and definition.
• Palate: A plush entry with a velvety grain, immediately refreshed by a carved acidity. Sweetness is expressed with restraint, as a subtle thread rather than a push. The mid-palate is harmonious, combining fruity indulgence and mineral precision, stretching to a clean, mouthwatering finish with delicate salinity and an airy persistence.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve this Coteaux du Layon between 10 and 12°C to reveal its uprightness and aromatic brightness. Decanting for a few minutes before serving allows its nuanced aromas to open and refines the texture on the palate. Store bottles on their side, protected from temperature fluctuations and light to preserve fruit freshness and the precision of the structure. Built for the long term, this wine has an ageing potential from 5 years to several decades, during which the palette will evolve toward more honeyed, candied and spicy notes while retaining the characteristic tension of Chenin from the Loire terroir.

Food pairings

• Seafood aperitifs: a selection of shellfish and seafood where iodine meets the wine's freshness, for a luminous, airy starter.
• Distinctive starters: delicate crustaceans whose texture pairs with the measured suppleness of the Layon, revealing couture-like tactile finesse.
• Mains: grilled fish with satiny flesh, accented with fine herbs, elevated by the fresh balance and subtle depth of this sweet Chenin.
• Savoury tarts: quiches and roasted vegetable preparations, whose richness finds a refreshing counterpoint in the wine's taut structure and disciplined sweetness.
• Iodine-rich bites: seafood boards and small bites that converse with the cuvée's precise minerality and muffled indulgence.

Occasions to enjoy

Roche Noire 2025 is the ideal companion:

• For a refined aperitif, when you want a bright atmosphere and clear flavours, balancing delicacy and lift.
• At a seasonal dinner, alongside straightforward yet subtle cuisine, where the wine's precision highlights textures and aromas without overpowering them.
• As a thoughtful gift for a lover of fine wines, sensitive to the harmony of sweet Chenin and the aesthetics of great Loire terroirs.

Details

• Name: Domaine Moncourt, Roche Noire 2025, Coteaux du Layon AOP
• Appellation: Coteaux du Layon AOP
• Type: Sweet white wine
• Vintage: 2025
• Grape variety: Chenin Blanc 100%
• Terroir: flint and clay-limestone soils
• Harvest: late, manual, successive sorting
• Winemaking: direct pressing, 24 h settling, controlled fermentation 15 to 20°C
• Ageing: 9 months on fine lees in tank
• Style: rounded and fresh, balance of sweetness and freshness
• Ageing potential: 5 years to several decades
• Serving temperature: 10–12°C