Clement & Florian Berthier “Terre de Silex” Coteaux du Giennois Blanc 2023
Clement & Florian Berthier “Terre de Silex” Coteaux du Giennois Blanc 2023 This vibrant wine is a 100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the Coteaux du Giennois appellation, where the 2023 vintage's warm, humid summer required meticulous vineyard management but ultimately yielded pristine fruit with beautifully balanced acidity. The wine's distinctive character is deeply rooted in its terroir, grown at elevations of 200 to 400 meters in soils boasting an unusually high concentration of flint (silex) alongside classic limestone. In the glass, it displays a pale, shimmering straw color with brilliant clarity and moderate viscosity, leading to a highly aromatic nose of frozen lemons, tart gooseberry, quince peel, and a striking, smoky crushed flint minerality. On the palate, this dry, medium-bodied white delivers a thrilling surge of zippy lemon acidity that perfectly frames flavors of crisp green apple and subtle rock melon, carrying through to a long, mouthwatering finish defined by a persistent, chalky tension. Fifth-generation winemakers Clement and Florian Berthier employ minimal intervention and achieved organic certification in 2022, utilizing biodynamic practices to farm their vines without herbicides or pesticides. In the winery, the grapes undergo wild yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks and are aged on the fine lees to build mid-palate complexity without masking the pristine fruit. It pairs beautifully with classic American dishes like grilled shrimp scampi, where the wine's bright acidity effortlessly cuts through the rich garlic butter, a pan-seared Pacific halibut topped with a fresh herb beurre blanc that mirrors the wine's grassy undertones, or a vibrant roasted beet and goat cheese salad. While specific major critic scores for the 2023 vintage are still emerging, the Berthier estate consistently earns 90-plus point ratings from publications like Wine Enthusiast, making this terroir-driven cuvée a remarkably affordable and high-value alternative to its famous neighbor, Sancerre.