2020 Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé “Silex”, Loire Valley, France

One of France's great, iconic estates, making singluar, age-worthy Sauvignon Blancs from the appellation of Pouilly-Fume. Didier Dagueneau was one of the first estates in the region to experiment with single-parcel wines, starting with "En Chailloux" in 1982, and later "Pur Sang" in 1988. Vines are farmed meticulously, with an average of 1 full time worker per hectare (much like the very top domaines in Burgundy!)

The estate is now run by fifth generation, Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau, who took over following the untimely passing of his father Didier in 2007. Didier Dagueneau was a fourth generation winemaker in the village of St Andelain in Pouilly-Fumé. As someone who always liked to push the limits, Didier left his home town at a young age to race motorcycle side cars on the international circuit between 1978 and 1982. He later added dog-sled racing to his list of passions, and here too, competed internationally for many years during the winter months. Dagueneau returned to the his native village in 1982 and in typical Didier fashion, elected to set up his own estate in Pouilly-Fumé rather than join the family fold. Inspired by the great wines of Burgundy and other top regions (his mentors were Edmond Vatan and Henri Jayer) and emboldened by the wisdom and traditions of his grandfather, Louis Dagueneau, he set about to create a Pouilly-Fumé of extraordinary dimension and terroir focus exploiting the top vineyard sites around St. Andelain.

He acquired his first parcel, 1.2 hectares of En Chailloux, and began to vinify under his own label in the 1982 vintage. In 1985, he added the now infamous Silex, and in 1988, Pur Sang.