1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$79.99
This domaine has expanded considerably since the time Serge Dagueneau took on his handful of hectares. Today, there are 23 hectares of vines, of which 18 hectares are dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation. Many of the vines are ancient, with some up to one hundred years old. Most of these vines are planted on Kimmeridgian marl, one of the classic terroirs of the Pouilly-Fumé and Pouilly-sur-Loire appellations. He is the nephew of the late Didier Dagueneau, a legend in the wine world. The L'Odyssee is their flagship wine, a stunning example of Pouilly-Fume.
From The Producer
"Along the roman road of Pouilly-sur-Loire, the vineyards of Les Chailloux present a beautiful vein of flint which gave Valérie the idea to express the vividness and the purity of this terroir. Vinification takes place in an ovoid concrete vat referred to as “the egg”, in order to enhance and embellish the fresh richness of this cuvée. L’Odyssée, an invitation to a journey and a reference to her son Ulysse…"
750ml mlThis was whole bunch and native fermented in concrete eggs, where it remained on lees for aging. Bright grapefruit, pear, and lemon verbena lead the stony palate, with a tight mineral grip streaming along the sleek frame, bedded with light herbal lees, and lingering with salinity. Very much in youth still, this wine will build complexity with time in the bottle.
The history of the Domaine dates to the late Léontine Dagueneau. In the 1920s as a widower, she bought two hectares of vines in the Loire River valley where she also grew vegetables and tended to her livestock, which consisted mainly of cattle and goats. She also made cheese alongside her wine, both of which were sought after for their quality and finesse. From here the torch has been handed down through four generations of winemakers, each of which added their own mark on the winery and Dagueneau name.
Today, the name “Serge Dagueneau & Filles” is most often associated with the region of Pouilly-Fumé in the Loire region of France. This region is known for its high acid, dry, mineral-driven, Sauvignon Blancs that due to the soil content take on a chalky “Smokiness”, which is where the name Pouilly-Fumé comes from (Pouilly, referring to Pouilly-ser-Loire, which is a small town in the region, and Fumé, meaning smoke, referring to the flinty smokiness that is often associated with wines made in the region). Even though the name is heavily connected with the region of Pouilly-Fumé, they have extended their production to include Cotes de la Charité, which allows them to experiment with other grape varietals.
Valerie Dagueneau, the daughter of Serge, has now taken over the business from her father armed with knowledge from her viticulture degree, and experience from growing up in a respected wine-making family, as well as spending time in California. She has taken the Business in a slightly new direction, focusing on making the farm environmentally friendly, which has earned the winery an HEV (High Environmental Value) certification.