The son of a Touraine winemaker, Valentin performed his studies in Bordeaux and got his first hands-on experience outside of the Loire within the Bordeaux region, at Chateau Mangot in Saint-Emilion. Following that, he went on to work in New Zealand in 2015, with a strong focus on Sauvignon Blanc - very much a different essence in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Loire. Returning back to France, it was natural to spend time in Burgundy, where he was able to work alongside some of the top white winemakers we know and love - Raphael Coche and Paul Pillot - with a stint with Vincent Sipp in Alsace (Domaine Agapé) to cap off his travels.

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

Vineyarrd: Left Bank of the Cher - South West exposure – 2ha

Soil: Clay with chalky flint

Vine Age: 55-65 years

Fermentation & Aging: 24 hours of pressing at 1.8 bars. Transferred to 228L, 17% new homemade barrels for 24 months. Racking in March then bottled by the moon calendar in May 2022. Unfined and unfiltered

Bottles: 6000

The apex of the winery's Sauvignon Blanc bottlings, the Bel Air cuvée is an electric expression of Sauvignon Blanc from the limestone soils of Touraine, that smells like green apple skin, fresh herbs, and sea shells.

Rating: 92, Wine Advocate "The second vintage of this rendition, the 2021 Bel Air wafts from the glass with aromas of herbs, sage, rosemary and honey. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and powerfu, yet saline and elegant, it’s more austere than the 2024, a reflection of the frost- and mildew-affected vintage.