Benoit Courault Empreinte Loire Valley 2023 750ml

Benoît Courault "Empreinte" 2023 is a natural white wine from the Loire Valley, France, produced by the same acclaimed winemaker as Gilbourg.

Producer: Benoît Courault, based in Faye-d’Anjou (Anjou region). His philosophy remains organic farming with draft horses, minimal intervention, and a focus on purity and terroir expression, influenced by his time at Domaine l'Anglore.

Grape & Style: 100% Chenin Blanc. This is a relatively newer cuvée in his lineup (around its third or fourth vintage by 2023), often described as fine, delicate, gourmand yet refined—more accessible and approachable than his flagship Gilbourg, with a balance of fruitiness and minerality.

Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes, direct gentle pressing, spontaneous fermentation in used barrels (225L and 600L), aged on lees for about 6–12 months. No fining, no filtration, and typically no or very minimal added SO₂ (often none).

Tasting Notes: Ripe yellow fruits (pear, peach), hints of almond and subtle smokiness, fresh acidity, mineral tension, and a long, elegant finish. It's generous and expressive but precise—simple yet sophisticated, highly drinkable young but with potential to evolve.

Comparison to Gilbourg: While Gilbourg is often his "tête de cuvée" (top Chenin from older vines, more intense and structured), Empreinte is seen as a more immediate, fruit-forward expression, sometimes from slightly different or younger parcels, making it a great entry point to his whites.