Domaine de Juchepie - Coteaux du Layon Faye - La Passion 2022
On the steep slopes of Faye-d'Anjou, in the heart of the Layon valley, Domaine de Juchepie perpetuates a tradition of great sweet Chenins based on the natural concentration of the grape and the precision of balances. Created in 1986 by Eddy and Mileine Oosterlinck, this confidential estate has gradually established itself among the references of sweet Anjou wines, thanks to a demanding approach to viticultural work and vinifications. The vineyard occupies south and southwest-facing slopes, where soils of schist, spilite, and rhyolite bear witness to a particularly complex geological history. Cultivated organically since 1994, the vines are also managed biodynamically, with Biodyvin certification obtained in 2007. Harvesting is done exclusively by hand, in successive passes, to select grapes that have reached the desired degree of concentration. Among the different expressions of Chenin produced at the estate, La Passion holds a privileged place, reserved for harvests that yield particularly rich juices. This sweet cuvée, produced only when conditions allow, seeks exceptional aromatic intensity while maintaining the freshness essential to the balance of great age-worthy wines.
La Passion is made from Chenin Blanc from the estate's various terroirs, notably parcels of purple and sandstone schist, spilite, and rhyolite. The grapes are selected through successive sorting when they show particularly high concentration, achieved through the development of noble rot or passerillage depending on the vintage conditions. The estate reserves this cuvée for musts reaching at least 19 degrees potential alcohol, a level that attests to the extraordinary natural richness of the harvested berries. Yields are deliberately very low, generally between 5 and 10 hectoliters per hectare, to prioritize the quality of the raw material. After slow pressing in small vertical presses, fermentations take place spontaneously in oak barrels, without yeast addition or chaptalization. Aging usually lasts eighteen to twenty-four months, allowing the wine to develop a deep texture and remarkable aromatic complexity. The 2022 vintage, marked in Anjou by a particularly hot and dry summer, offered favorable conditions for strong grape concentration, although the production of great sweet wines remains closely dependent on late-season conditions. The richness of Chenin and its natural acidity are the two pillars of this expression, in which sweetness must always be supported by a sufficiently lively structure.
In the glass, La Passion 2022 promises an intense golden robe, likely to gradually take on amber reflections during aging. Its bouquet should combine candied apricot, ripe mango, quince, and orange peel with nuances of acacia honey, saffron, and dried flowers. On aeration, touches of beeswax, dried fruits, and sweet spices could enrich this palette, while barrel aging adds additional depth without necessarily dominating the fruit expression. The palate is characterized by the expected richness of a great sweet Chenin, with a creamy, dense, and enveloping texture, whose concentration must find balance in the natural liveliness of the grape variety. Fine citrus bitters and a sensation of freshness extend the tasting, preventing the sweetness from becoming heavy. The finish should stretch over candied fruits, honey, and spices, with particularly long persistence. This wine will accompany pan-seared foie gras with quinces, poultry with morels, blue-veined cheese, or a thin apricot tart, but can also be enjoyed alone to appreciate the full complexity of its expression. Designed to last for decades, it will gradually develop aromas of dried fruits, blond caramel, wax, and spices, while maintaining the balance that distinguishes the great sweet wines of the Layon valley.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
