Anjou Veau 2022 Belargus

The Anjou Veau 2022 from Domaine Belargus is one of the domaine's most singular and precious cuvées, from the lieu-dit Le Veau, one of three parcels listed in the original decree establishing the Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru appellation. A dry Chenin of remarkable mineral tension, absolute precision and purity, vinified dry on a terroir whose exposed schist bedrock imparts profound mineral depth, salinity and incomparable ageing potential. Superb in precision and purity, it reveals all the subtle nuances of this great Chenin terroir.

The parcel and terroir

Le Veau is one of three historic parcels named in the original Quarts-de-Chaume decree, alongside Les Quarts and Les Rouères. Its name comes from old French and describes the parcel's form, a small valley. Belargus's plot covers most of this historic lieu-dit, on the west-facing slope, a cooler exposure than its south-facing neighbours, which naturally preserves the Chenin's acidity and gives it particularly striking tension and minerality. The soil is extremely thin, even absent in places, with the parcel resting on a tongue of exposed schist 500 million years old, mixed with volcanic elements that bring dark mineral tone and a firm, characteristic structure. These exposed schists, interspersed with volcanic elements, are precisely the source of this cuvée's profound mineral character, salinity and exceptional ageing potential. Yields of 25 hectolitres per hectare. Hand-harvested at optimal maturity. Indigenous yeast fermentation in barrel, without stirring or racking. Long ageing of one to two years. Certified biodynamic.

Tasting profile

The robe is subtle gold with green and golden reflections, limpid and crystalline. The nose is of absolute delicacy and precision, juicy pear and orange blossom aromas opening naturally and spontaneously, accompanied by cold, precise schistose minerality of remarkable depth. Faintly waxy notes and burnt apple, inherited from the west exposure and slow ripening of the grapes, enrich this bouquet with natural and well-defined complexity. On the palate, the texture is both rich and concentrated, with salinity and mineral tension of absolute intensity that structure generous, well-built matter. White-fleshed fruit, ripe pear and stone fruit notes express themselves with remarkable precision and depth. Noble bitterness on the finish, signature of great dry Chenins on exposed schist, prolongs the tasting with absolute elegance and persistence. An immense wine to wait a minimum of five years, capable of magnificent evolution over twenty years.

The domaine

Domaine Belargus was born in 2018 from Ivan Massonnat's passion for Coteau des Treilles. After taking over Jo Pithon's domaine, he surrounded himself with Adrien Moreau in the cellar, Amaury Chartier in the vineyard, and support from Jo Pithon and Guy Bossard as consultants. His ambition applies the same principles that make Burgundy great to Anjou Noir, a rigorous parcel-by-parcel approach on a single grape variety, Chenin, with long ageing and minimal intervention. The 24-hectare domaine has been certified organic since 2022 and is converting to biodynamics. Belargus holds 10 hectares of the 40 classified Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru, spread across its three historic lieux-dits.

Food pairings

This Anjou Veau pairs beautifully with grilled lobster in hazelnut butter, wild turbot in court-bouillon, poached scallops with white truffle, sole meunière, veal sweetbreads with morels and light cream, or aged hard cheeses such as 24-month Comté. Decanting for one hour is advised in its youth. Served between 12 and 14°C, it will reveal all the schistose tension, volcanic minerality and character of a dry Chenin born on one of the three founding parcels of the Loire's Grand Cru, vinified without compromise by one of the most ambitious and precise domaines in the Angevin vineyard.