The region's best wine is the Chenin Blanc, which reaches its full expression. In spite of the quality, the prices are low because of its bad reputation.
The best wines can be stored for 70 to 80 years. They have a bitter bouquet of winterapples with a hint of bread and a certain sugar that varies according to vintage. The sweetness is well balanced by the fruit acidity. The aroma is emphasized by the high alcohol content, but the wines are never overbearing.
The appellation is a kind of "village" variation with concentrated wines from meagre soil of quartz, slate, and sometimes clay. Only Chenin Blanc is cultivated.
More often than not does the vintage define the ripeness. More hours of sun let the grapes ripen and a sweet wines be made. The wines are filled into bottles early on. Processing in small oakwood barrels is very rare. The wines ripen slowly in their bottles.
Winery (selected) from Wine country Coteaux du Layon
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