Damien Pinon

We’ve been importing Damien Pinon’s wines for the best part of a decade now. Still to this day they manage to impress us with their ability to walk the line of texture and freshness, like only the very best Chenin blanc can do. Indeed Chenin Blanc is all that they do – there is a Vouvray Sec and an excellent sparkling. That’s it.

The estate is approximately 22 hectares on clay and limestone soils, located in the village of Vernou-sur-Brenne. Damien and his wife Ingrid took over the estate from Damien’s father a decade ago, right around the time we first started working with them. The vines are around 25 to 25 years of age, although there are some small plots which are much older. Yields for the still wines are around 45hl/h and a little bit more for the bubbles. There has been a gradual shift towards organic viticulture over the years, and the duo are currently in the process of seeking certification. Fermentation occurs naturally with indigenous yeasts and there is weekly stirring of the lees. Everything else is very hands-off.

The Vouvray Sec is labelled as ‘Tuffo” – a nod to the white rock soils (known locally as Tuffeau) which house the very impressive cellar where the wines are vinified and aged. Both of these wines come warmly recommended. PWS