Moulin-Touchais Coteaux du Layon 1996

95+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 1996 vintage of Moulin Touchais is not as glazed with botrytis as the 1997 and relies more on desiccated fruit and late harvest ripeness to attain its sweetness, which gives it a different aromatic and flavor profile than the 1997, but the wine is every bit as profound. The excellent nose jumps from the glass in a blaze of fresh pineapple, quince, chalky soil, incipient notes of the honeycomb to follow, orange peel, bee pollen and a potpourri of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very racy in personality, with a great core of fruit, laser-like focus, striking soil signature and stunning length and grip on the electric finish. The 1997 has more flash at the present time and will always be the bigger wine, but my heart is won by the precision, refinement and inherent complexity of the racy 1996! 2020-2075. (Sep/Oct 2015)"

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "This estate, owned by the same family since 1787, has amazing stocks of old sweet wines maturing in its cellars. With red apple, honey and apricot aromas, this wine, mature and yet so fresh, is proof of the aging ability of Chenin Blanc. It is the balance between the ripe honeyed flavors and the intense acidity that keeps it so vibrant. Drink this superb wine now. (Jan 2017)"

On the banks of the river Layon in the beautiful Loire valley exists one of the world's largest and oldest single wine stocks. Miles of underground cellars contain wines dating back to the 1800's. These are the sweet Chenin Blanc wines of Moulin Touchais, one of the Loire Valley's most legendary estates. Their vineyards are amongst the most famous in the Anjou area, lying in the heart of the Coteaux du Layon region. Like Huët, these wines are among the most ageworthy on the planet. In fact, Moulin Touchais is the only winery in the world we know of who gives a CENTURY LONG GUARANTEE ON THE LONGEVITY OF THEIR WINES.

These are by definition sweet wines, though not in the classical sense. Over time, the residual sugar melds with the acidity and fruit, leaving the impression they are much less sweet than they actually are. They are wines of great versatility, perfect harmony and among the great hidden gems of the wine world.

Unfortunately, the wines are seldom seen on the market. For one, the wine is only produced in great vintages. Secondly, they aren't released until at least ten years after date of harvest. When they are, the vast majority is quickly snatched up by locals, leaving very little for consumers here in the US. However, we just got our hands on a significant lot from their most recent release and were able to acquire good quantities on six top back vintages. And because we bought them directly from the domaine, the wines are not only pristine, but we got them at amazing pricing. In fact, really amazing! Wines of this quality, age and provenance simply don't exist in today's market, so we encourage you to take advantage of this unique buying opportunity while you can.