Francois Cazin Cheverny Blanc 2024 750ml

Though Cazin’s quiet rock-stardom stems from his Cour-Cheverny wines from the more obscure Romorantin grape, it was his Cheverny Blanc–by law a Sauvignon/Chardonnay blend– which led importer Joe Dressner to François’s wines in the first place at a Loire wine fair twenty five years ago. He grows Sauvignon Rose, a sub-variety of Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, some vines of which are up to forty years old, on clay-limestone soils. The organically farmed grapes are hand-harvested, co-fermented with natural yeasts in tank, aged in tank and neutral oak for a year, and bottled by gravity and with no filtration. Le Petit Chambord, which is on every Cazin label, is the historical name of the family property.

• Country: France
• Region: Loire Valley
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

Sauvignon Blanc

The green skinned grapes of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal had their origins in Southern France, where they are still widely grown and used for many of the excellent young and aged white wines the region is famous for. Today, however, they are grown in almost every wine producing country in the world, and are widely revered for their fresh and grassy flavors, full of tropical notes and refreshing, zesty character. Sauvignon Blanc grapes thrive best in moderate climates, and ripen relatively early in the year. This has made them a favorite for many wineries in the New World, where they can still produce healthy and high yields in the earlier part of the summer before the temperatures become too hot. Too much heat has a massively adverse effect on Sauvignon Blanc, as the grapes become dull in their flavor, and the wine produced from them loses all its unique character and high points. As such, Sauvignon Blanc farmers have had a lot of trouble from global warming and climate change, as they are being forced to harvest their crops increasingly earlier in the year when it is cool enough to do so.