Touraine 'Cendrillon' 2021, Domaine de la Garrelière

A fairytale creation grounded in artisanal precision. 'Cendrillon' 2021 — French for Cinderella — by Domaine de la Garrelière is a characterful, mineral-driven white wine from southern Touraine. Sourced from 40 to 45-year-old vines planted on flint-rich soils, this cuvée offers a striking balance of crystalline mineral tension, ripe citrus fruit, and multi-layered texture.

In the glass, the wine displays a bright, pale straw hue. The bouquet opens with pronounced flint minerality, subtly framed by aromas of ripe citrus, white flowers, green apple, and a delicate saline touch. On the palate, it shows distinct texture and depth: the natural concentration of old vines is perfectly balanced by crisp, vibrant acidity, leading into a long, focused finish.

Key Highlights

• Terroir: Sourced from 40 to 45-year-old vines in southern Touraine, planted on vibrant soils rich in sand, clay, and silex (flint).
• Grape Variety & Vintage: Sauvignon Blanc (complemented by Chenin Blanc depending on vintage variations) from the 2021 harvest.
• Winemaking & Ageing: Hand-harvested, followed by a gentle 3-hour slow press. After a natural 12-hour settling, spontaneous fermentation using native yeasts takes place over 2 slow months at cool temperatures to build creamy complexity.
• Sustainability: Organic and biodynamic farming (Biodyvin). Bottled under natural wine principles: unfined, unfiltered, and crafted with minimal added sulfites.
• Tasting Profile: Fresh, layered, and mineral-driven. Notes of ripe citrus, green apple, white blossoms, flint, and a crisp saline finish.
• Ageing Potential: Expressive and energetic now, with the structural balance to cellar gracefully over 3 to 5 years.

Food Pairing

• Fish & Seafood: Outstanding alongside grilled sea bass, poached cod with beurre blanc, fresh oysters, or grilled langoustines.
• Cheese: The quintessential pairing for traditional Loire goat cheeses, such as aged Sainte-Maure de Touraine.
• Vegetarian: Excellent match for fennel dishes, spring vegetables, white asparagus, and herb-infused salads.
• Serving Suggestion: Best served chilled between 10°C and 12°C in generous white wine crystal glasses.

The Silex Terroir

The vineyards for Cendrillon feature a subsoil dominated by silex (flint) mixed with clay and sand. This specific soil type retains heat while imparting a signature smokiness and razor-sharp mineral focus to the grapes, yielding a wine defined by energy and precision.

About Domaine de la Garrelière

Domaine de la Garrelière is directed by Pascale and François Plouzeau. Since 1985, they have cultivated their 18-hectare estate near Richelieu organically and biodynamically. Guided by low cellar intervention, patient fermentations, and deep respect for living soils, the Plouzeaus produce pure, transparent terroir wines.