Gael Felix 1ere Confidence Quincy 2024

Domaine Gaël Félix is a small estate established in 2022 in Quincy, in France’s Central Loire Valley. After six years of viticulture and winemaking studies, Gaël gained experience at estates in Châteauneuf du Pape, Alsace, Sancerre and Reuilly, as well as in New Zealand. He returned to his native region to establish his own domaine, now farming approximately 6.3 hectares. His focus is on expressing the character of Quincy’s sauvignon blanc through careful vineyard management and restrained winemaking, alongside smaller productions of pinot gris, pinot noir and gamay.

Gaël began converting his vineyards to organic farming in 2023, incorporating biodynamic preparations and herbal treatments into his vineyard practices. He cultivates the soils superficially, applies organic fertilizers and composted manure, and uses copper and sulfur treatments to manage disease pressure. The vineyards occupy terraces overlooking the Cher River, with soils composed of clay, silica, sand and gravel. These well drained soils, combined with the region’s relatively cool climate, provide favorable conditions for producing aromatic sauvignon blanc with pronounced acidity and freshness.

The 2024 1ère Confidence is made entirely from sauvignon blanc, sourced from several parcels in the Les Victoires vineyard, where the vines average 25 years of age. Following a combination of manual and mechanical harvesting, the grapes are sorted and fermented with indigenous yeasts for approximately 12 days. The wine undergoes élevage for 12 months on its fine lees, with 90% aged in stainless steel and 10% in 600 liter oak demi muids. No sulfur is added at harvest, although small additions are made following fermentation and before bottling. The challenging, unusually wet 2024 growing season resulted in significant vineyard losses, with yields limited to 38 hectoliters per hectare.

The wine opens with aromas of lemon, lime and fresh citrus zest. On the palate, vibrant acidity and bright citrus fruit are complemented by a delicate texture and pronounced minerality. The finish is long, saline and refreshing, with a subtle savory character.