Montlouis sur Loire Remus 2025 Domaine de La Taille aux Loups

The Montlouis-sur-Loire Sec Remus 2025 from Domaine de la Taille aux Loups is the perfect ambassador for the appellation and the signature cuvée of the domaine founded by Jacky Blot in 1988, today run with the same conviction and rigour by his son Jean-Philippe. This Remus Sec embodies a subtle balance between generosity, freshness, fruit and minerality. A grand dry Chenin, dense and energetic, well-ripened and delivering beautiful tension and salivating substance. A wine that alone represents the renaissance of Montlouis-sur-Loire as a terroir of great dry Chenins capable of rivalling the finest Loire appellations.

Terroir and vineyards

Remus comes from parcels of old vines aged 70 to 80 years, facing due south on clay-siliceous soils resting on calcareous bedrock between the Loire and Cher rivers. This clay-siliceous soil over shallow limestone is the founding terroir of the Taille aux Loups style: a natural tension of crystalline precision, cold and precise minerality inherited from tuffeau limestone, and a natural aromatic depth that only old vines can produce on this substrate. Grapes are harvested by hand during the second pass through the vineyards, usually in early October, the first pass in these same vineyards being used for the cuvée Les Dix Arpents. This deliberate choice to vinify the two passes separately reflects absolute precision: the grapes from the second pass, more concentrated and riper, benefit from superior concentration and aromatic complexity. Yield is only 20 hectolitres per hectare. Vinification follows the philosophy established by Jacky Blot: pneumatic pressing, static settling for 30 hours, very slow fermentation in barrels without added yeast or chaptalization, no malolactic fermentation to preserve all natural tension and freshness. Ageing lasts one year in barrels, one third new, one third of one wine and one third of two wines, with a single racking. The wine is bottled in the following autumn, with very light filtration.

Tasting profile

The robe is pale gold with green reflections, limpid and crystalline. The nose opens still youthfully on seductive notes of lime, quince and pear hidden behind the minerality, with light touches of vervain and ginger. Aromas of quince, mirabelle and acacia unfold with generosity and precision, underpinned by the saline minerality characteristic of tuffeau. Measured oak ageing brings lovely roundness on the palate, supported by creamy, subtly buttery substance. In the mouth, this is a balanced, ample dry Chenin with superb mineral tension. The nearly perfect equilibrium between minerality, fruit and roundness is the absolute signature of this cuvée from vintage to vintage. The finish is very persistent with minerality and formidable saline bitters, sustained by natural acidity that lingers long. A delight. Drink from 2027 onwards and capable of fine evolution over ten to fifteen years.

The domaine

Domaine de la Taille aux Loups was born in 1988 when Jacky Blot settled on the Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation. A great admirer of Burgundy, he forged a barrel-ageing vinification style close to Burgundian methods, becoming one of the major architects of the qualitative renaissance of Montlouis wines. In May 2023, Jacky Blot passed away. His son Jean-Philippe, supported by technical director Christophe Mesliand and a dedicated team, continues this quest for excellence with the same conviction across the domaine's 45 hectares of Chenin, between Montlouis and Vouvray. Even the domaine's smaller cuvées can age for around fifteen years, and the evolution is absolutely remarkable according to enthusiasts who have been fortunate enough to follow every vintage since the first.

Food pairings

Serve at 11 °C in fine Burgundy white glasses, a vigorous decanting of 10 to 15 minutes in youth will allow it to develop its full potential. Touraine rillettes on toasted bread as an aperitif, a scallop carpaccio or line-caught sea bass tartare well seasoned as a starter, where the wine's minerality will seek out the iodine in the dish. Langoustines, melon, fresh goat cheeses such as Sainte-Maure de Touraine or fine oysters from a claire are also pairings of great distinction. A versatile and sincere wine, to share with those curious to discover the grandeur of dry Chenins from Montlouis-sur-Loire.