It never ceases to amaze me or entertain me on how wine arrives at my desk in consideration of writing about them. I’m sure most think that I sit around all day and taste wine presented by reps. Unfortunately, I don’t have the patience or the liver for that and still be able to do what is expected of me. And quite frankly, most of those wines are not very good, and seems that the intent is similar to throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. I rely more on our wine managers on the floor, who do taste quite a bit, keep up with all the wines in the store, and can point me in the right direction on good wines with good stories. But Domaine Pichot Vouvaray came to us by a different route. 

It seemed that our salesman, who has a very good palate, wanted us to buy all he had of this wine so that he could take a couple of cases with him on vacation to Martha’s vineyard. The wine is a staple for us, Pichon Vouvray and he saw that the current vintage was being moved out for the next vintage. He negotiated with the supplier to get the price way down and set up a tasting with our wine group to see if the wine was as good as he thought. As it turned out, we really loved the wine, and I started to take orders for personal consumption from our staff. I bought a case, Tim G bought a case, as did John E., Tim Korby bought two cases, Dena and Rachael have bought bottles and will buy more. Even Brian, our beer guru, has bought some, but he won’t admit it. The question became, can I get this wine out as an email offer before the staff buys it all? Why? Because it is more than half of the regular price of this top-rated wine.

Domaine Pichot is arguably the Vouvray appellation’s longest-established domaine. Since long before the United States was even a country, the Pichot family has been fine-tuning their Chenin Blanc, and their 200+ years of mastery are on full display in this golden Loire Valley Icon. Luckily for us, the Pichot price hasn’t climbed in equal measure with their prestige over the past two centuries. Instead, their Vouvray continues to be one of the best values for an aromatic wine that we have.

Jean-Claude Pichot’s family has its origins as viticulturists and restaurateurs dating back to 1739. In 1770, they bought the Coteau de la Biche vineyards to supply their restaurant. The family cellars are located in the charming village of Vouvray, in caverns carved from the rolling hills once quarried to provide stone to construct the grand châteaux of the Loire. In 1957, Jean-Claude and Danielle Pichot purchased a home and 25-acre vineyard named Le Peu de la Moriette. According to JeanClaude, the name originates from the old French Puits du petit Maure, or “Well of the little Moor,” dating back to antiquity when the Moors had settled in this region of France. Domaine Pichot was established in 1996, uniting the three historic vineyards of the family: Coteau de la Biche, Le Peu de la Moriette, and Le Marigny. The 60 acres of vineyards are all in Vouvray, six miles east of Tours on the right bank of the Loire River. The vines are thirty years old on average and are all Chenin Blanc. In an era when négotiants bottle most Vouvray wines, the stylish wines of the Pichot are family-owned, estate-bottled, and continue to show the aromatic elegance of Chenin Blanc. They are authentic expressions of a particular terrain, climate, cellar, and the winemaker’s art.

Still fully family-owned and operated, it’s the cumulative knowledge of current winemaker Christophe Pichot that makes this wine such a standout. Christophe continues the family legacy of steadfast dedication to the chalk-filled vineyards first planted by his ancestors in 1739, which allowed the Pichot family to define and shape the fame of Vouvray as one of the region’s first wineries and earn their place in the Vouvray pantheon as one of the first to export their wines to the US.

Today, their stewardship of the land and the nobility of Chenin Blanc is epitomized in the 2022 Domaine Pichot Le Peu de la Moriette. Hailing from vines ranging from 25-60 years old that are deeply rooted in Vouvray’s hallmark chalk and clay soil, which gives the wine its depth, purity, and refreshing acidity. This 2022 estate bottled Vouvray will transport you to the banks of the Loire for a fraction of benchmark wines from other appellations typically command.

This semi-dry wine is the perfect balance between dry and sweet wines. It combines freshness and roundness on the palate with aromas of passion fruit. Its balance enables this wine to suit a wide variety of meals.

Starting with fish or scallops, this semi-dry wine will delight your guests. Serve it with white meat or poultry accompanied by a cream and tarragon sauce or morel mushrooms. Goat cheese will prolong the enjoyment, followed by a lemon meringue tart, which will match the semi-dry’s tasty freshness. This reliable wine is to be served slightly chilled.

Beautiful deep golden yellow color with brilliant reflections. Impressive nose of concentration with aromas of flowers and ripe fruit. On the palate, beautiful aromatic richness, fruit perfectly balanced by the very present minerality. The finish is incredibly persistent. Drink now or over the next 5 years.

Glossy and round, yet delicate, this white shows green apple and lime zest notes that have an off-dry edge, gaining balance from its savory dimension. Reveals green grass and wet stone elements that line the clean, lightweight finish. Drink now. Very Good, Wine Spectator

Domaine Pichot Vouvray 2022

We gathered quite the crowd in our very small kitchen in anticipation of tasting the 2022 Picot Vouvray. I knew the wine would not disappoint, so we set the bar very high. I didn’t realize the wine would completely hit it out of the park. Wait, am I mixing up my metaphors? You get my point; everyone thought the wine was way excellent. It poured with a light golden straw. Aromas of peach and lychee fruit. Medium weight on the palate with more stone fruit and mango coupled with a steely minerality. Beautiful acid kept a crispness to the wine with a hint of sweetness. The problem with this wine is that the fresh fruit and acid won’t let you stop at one glass or one bottle; you always want more. And offered at more than half the regular price, at $10 a bottle, you will definitely want to stock up. At the end of our staff tasting, I felt like Oprah Winfrey, ‘You get a case, and you get a case, and you get a case. Everyone gets a case.’ We bought all they had, and the next vintage will be well over $20. Don’t sleep on this one.

Regular Price: $21.99

*Sale Price is on 12 or more bottle purchase

 Wine is packed in a 12 bottle case

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.

Cheers!

John Hannum,

Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

Attleboro

628 Washington St.

Norwood

942 Providence Hgwy.

Sturbridge

376 Main Street.

Swansea

207 Swansea Mall Dr.

Monday-Saturday

9AM to 9PM