Jean-Christophe Mandard Touraine Les P'tites Notes is a delicious blend that combines the soft, generous and fruity Gamay grape with the silky elegance of the Pinot Noir grape. Sappy red fruit, cherry and dark strawberry dominates with bramble fruit and touches of hedgerow on the palate. There are nice Asian spice notes, velvet like tannins and a long harmonious finish to the wine. It is a humble yet complex and sophisticated wine.
The Domaine is situated outside of Mareuil-sur-Cher, on the south side of the river Cher where the soils are made up of clay, limestone and silex. Altogether they farm 27 hectares, made up from nine different grape varieties of which Sauvignon Blanc remains the most important. It is here, on the deeper clay soils that Sauvignon Blanc displays a lightness, finesse and concentration of flavour that is often lacking from the Touraine Sauvignons of Oisly and Thesee on the north side of the river Cher which are planted on sandier soil. Mandard has some particularly old vines of Sauvignon along with a vineyard in Chenonceaux which is an area of immense potential and offers superb value in comparison to areas like Sancerre.
The Domaine also farms a rare indigenous grape called Orbois, which was quite a revelation due to its texture derived from lees aging rather than oak. Well worth trying.
