2020 Domaine Belargus Rouères

Winery

Domaine Belargus ranks among the absolute world elite of the Loire and has, in a short time, established itself as the benchmark for dry Chenin Blanc from Anjou. Under the leadership of Ivan Massonnat, the focus lies entirely on historic terroirs and an extremely meticulous approach to vineyard and cellar management. The estate operates organically and biodynamically, producing exclusively terroir-driven wines with impressive precision. Each cuvée comes from a separate vineyard or climat, beautifully revealing the differences between the terroirs. Rouères is one of the estate's most refined and mineral-driven wines. You can find more information about this winery in the Winery tab.

Origin and terroir

Rouères comes from a plot of nearly three hectares on the eastern side of Quarts de Chaume, one of the three historic plots already mentioned in the original decree establishing the appellation. The thin, warm soils consist of puddingstone, sand concretions, and rounded pebbles that store heat during the day and release it slowly at night. As a result, the grapes ripen perfectly without losing their freshness. This unique terroir produces a Chenin Blanc with pronounced mineral tension, great precision, and an exceptionally long lifespan.

Grapes and vineyard management

The wine is made from 100% Chenin Blanc sourced from organically and biodynamically managed vineyards. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand and selected multiple times to ensure that only perfectly ripe fruit is processed. Thanks to low yields and poor, stony soils, the grapes develop a high aromatic concentration, while the natural acidity is fully preserved. The result is a wine in which terroir and grape variety blend perfectly.

Vinification and aging

After manual harvesting, the must ferments spontaneously using exclusively indigenous yeasts. Subsequently, the wine ages for a minimum of twelve months in a combination of stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels. The influence of the wood remains deliberately subtle so that the mineral identity of Rouères is fully preserved. During aging, sur lie maturation contributes extra depth, tension, and a creamy texture without softening the wine's tight character.

Color, smell and taste

The wine has a bright golden-yellow color. The aroma opens with ripe pear, quince, citrus, and yellow apple, followed by grapefruit, smoked spices, flint, and a subtle smokiness. As the wine opens up, aromas of candied lemon, wet stone, and a refined salinity emerge. On the palate, Rouères is tight, crystal clear, and impressively precise. The ripe fruit remains deliberately in the background, while minerality, lively acidity, fine tannins, and a saline tension dominate the wine. The finish is long, energetic, and almost endless, with notes of citrus, limestone, and a striking salty freshness.

Style and character

Rouères is one of the most terroir-driven Chenin Blancs of the Loire. Where some Chenins primarily display richness, this wine opts for finesse, tension, and precision. In its youth, the wine is reminiscent of a great dry Riesling due to its crystalline minerality, high acidity, and linear structure. With sufficient bottle aging, it develops greater depth, complexity, and impressive harmony without losing its fresh character.

Volume

The 2020 vintage produced exceptionally ripe grapes with great concentration and, at the same time, a strikingly fresh acidity. For Rouères, this resulted in a wine of enormous tension, great precision, and exceptional aging potential. The alcohol content is approximately 14%. The drinking window runs from 2030 to 2050, although further development thereafter is certainly not ruled out.

Food and wine pairings

This great Chenin Blanc pairs beautifully with lobster, scallops, turbot, sole, langoustines, and refined fish dishes. Poultry with creamy sauces, veal, mushroom risotto, and aged goat cheeses also make excellent combinations. Thanks to its powerful minerality and lively acidity, the wine feels perfectly at home in gastronomy.

Wine & Food and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.