Domaine Tinel-Blondelet "L'Arrêt Buffate" Pouilly Fumé 2018 Loire Valley France

When my mouth begins to water just thinking about a wine, I know all the tasting and spitting was worth it! Tracking down the good stuff isn't easy but sitting down to drink a bottle of L'Arrêt Buffate Pouilly Fumé gives life perspective. Annick Tinel-Blondelet has been farming her estate since 1983 crafting expressive Sauvignon Blancs from her vineyards in Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. The L'Arrêt Buffate vineyard is just across the river from historic Sancerre and has a unique history where in Roman times travelers through this area used this spot as a resting place. The vines here are 50 years old and the fruit is intensely fragrant and aromatic. The nose is intensely expressive and full of white flowers leading to firm, ripe flavors of citrus, passion fruit and more tropical flavors on the palate. Traditional vinification is carried out in stainless steel tanks and matured on the lees to fill and round out the body. This is classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc and proof that Sancerre isn't the only game in town. Fresh and pure, this wine shows a ton of high-toned acidity but gets really soft and ripe the longer the bottle is open. A classy white wine with lots of character!