Domaine Ricard TASCIACA

Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire is steadfastly unoaked. However maverick winemaker Vincent Ricard loves to buck a trend and has gently aged this wine in French oak. The results are simply sublime. Aromas of nectarines and ginger, with white fruit texture, a long finish with orange peel zip. Mouth wateringly great.

Country

France

Region

Loire Valley

Grapes

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage

2016

ABV

12.5

Code

11208

Style

White

Certificate

• Organic

HISTORY

Domaine Ricard is situated on the southern facing slopes of the Cher River in the Touraine region, not far from Chenonceau. The Ricard family has been growing vines here for generations. Vincent’s grandfather was a founding member of the local co-op but it was not until Vincent took over that they started making their own wines. He farms 17 hectares of vines which are predominantly Sauvignon Blanc, but he also grows Caberbnet Franc and Cot (Malbec).

TROUBLE MAKER

Very early on he got in to trouble with the authorities for producing a red wine with too much structure and concentration and therefore atypical of the appellation! When he applied for appellation controlée he was denied it because his wines were so completely different to the bulk wines produced by the local co-operatives. Vincent’s wicked sense of humour and healthy disregard for the status quo led him to duly label his red Le Vilain P’tit Rouge, “the little red villain”.

WONDERFUL WINES

His wines are fresh, lively and very representative of the terroir. His Le Petiot is lively and modern but very much Loire, not New Zealand. The red Le P’tit Villain, ripe with cherry fruit and spice, is idiosyncratic and not something you come across often. Vincent Ricard is a great example of the personality of the winemaker finding its way into the glass.