Vouvray dry ​​Les Perrieres Domaine Le Capitaine 75 cl

Description

Les Perrières Vouvray Sec: The Le Capitaine Family and the Chenin Blanc Terroir of Rochecorbon

Les Perrières is a dry white Vouvray produced by Domaine Le Capitaine, a family-owned wine estate located in Rochecorbon, near Tours in the Loire Valley.

The estate was founded in 1988 by Alain Le Capitaine, who began with a small family vineyard measuring just 0.25 hectares.

His brother Christophe joined the business in 1995, and Florian Le Capitaine became part of the estate in 2013 after studying viticulture and oenology.

Today, the family cultivates approximately 28 hectares of vines, mainly planted with Chenin Blanc on the slopes overlooking the Loire River.

Vouvray is one of the Loire Valley's historic white wine appellations. Its wines are produced from Chenin Blanc, a grape variety capable of expressing different levels of ripeness, acidity and sweetness.

Depending on vineyard conditions and winemaking choices, Chenin Blanc can produce dry, off-dry and sweet wines, as well as sparkling expressions.

Les Perrières is a still, dry white wine.

The vineyards are planted on aubuis, a local clay-limestone soil type. These formations lie above the region's characteristic tuffeau limestone bedrock.

The geology of Rochecorbon is particularly varied, with clay-limestone soils and other formations containing flint. This diversity allows the estate to produce several distinct expressions of Chenin Blanc.

The Loire River also influences the growing conditions. Its presence helps moderate temperatures, while the surrounding valleys create different vineyard exposures.

For Les Perrières, the winemaking process is designed to preserve the natural fruit and floral characteristics of the grape.

Fermentation takes place at a controlled low temperature over approximately three weeks.

The wine is then aged on its fine lees for six months. This maturation contributes to its rounded mouthfeel while maintaining the fresh acidity associated with Chenin Blanc.

The producer describes an aromatic profile combining acacia and white flowers with apple, pear and citrus fruit.

On the palate, ripe peach and pineapple bring a generous fruit character. Fresh pear and apple provide additional depth, while grapefruit contributes a lively, refreshing acidity.

The texture is slightly rounded rather than austere, giving the wine an appealing balance between fruit concentration and freshness.

Earlier vintages of Les Perrières have received recognition from the Guide Hachette des Vins. Both the 2016 and 2018 releases were awarded one star, although these ratings apply only to the respective vintages.

The wine pairs well with seafood, particularly oysters and shellfish. Salmon carpaccio and seafood gratin are among the food matches suggested by the producer.

Its citrus character also makes it suitable for lightly seasoned fish dishes, while the rounded texture can complement a variety of seafood preparations.

A serving temperature of around 12°C helps preserve the wine's floral expression and fresh finish.

Les Perrières provides a clear example of dry Vouvray Chenin Blanc, combining the clay-limestone terroir of Rochecorbon with controlled fermentation and fine-lees ageing.