Les Champs Libres, Vin de France Blanc, 2025
Champs Libres 2025 is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, all picked between the 20th-22nd of August. This is the inverse of Grand Village with more mineral and saline touches on the nose and an upfront citrus profile. Amalfi lemon pith, lime zest and sherbet. On the palate it becomes more expansive and sweeter-fruited with notes of guava, cantaloupe melon and baking spices. Much more serious and steelier than Grand Village Blanc, with lots of tension, but you get that glimmer of the heat of the vintage with the tropical high notes.
critic reviews
The 2025 Les Champs Libres was picked between August 20 and 22, pure Sauvignon Blanc as usual. This is a little more open for business on the nose compared to the Le Grand Village Blanc, with touches of gooseberry and lime, nicely focused and more forthcoming. The palate is fresh and citrus-driven, with lemon and lime, a dab of white pepper and a twist of bitter lemon towards the finish. Excellent. I could drink this now.
Gunsmoke reduction on the first nose, then fennel, anis, high spice, sinewy twists and turns through the palate, pinpoint lime zest, so much to sink into here. The texture forces you to slow down, and this is a wine that you just know with complete certainly is going to age and open and reward following. 70% new oak, almost entirely massal selection from Loire for the vines, with one plot of old genetics from Sauternes. 5,000 bottles per year. 3.1ph.