Henri Marionnet
Domaine de la Charmoise
Henry Marionnet is regarded in France as one of the best producers in the Touraine. In The Classement of Revue du Vin de France, he is the only Touraine producer rated one-star. There is one other grower who gets a mention, but no star. No other growers are even mentioned. Not only is he regarded as the best wine-maker of the Touraine, especially for his fabulous "M de Marionnet". The Cuvee M is from his oldest vines, harvested later, and left on the lees for nearly a year. It is produced only two or three times a decade. Marionnet is also considered one of the top tasters in France.
From Le Classement, 1999 Revue du Vin de France
"Monsieur Marionnet is the king of primeur wine in the Loire. He knew how to perfect the techniques of carbonic maceration to a degree unknown anywhere else. His Touraine Premieres Venganges possesses exquisite fruit, superior to that of all known Beaujolais and an unequaled velvetness of texture. His Gamay Cepages Oublies presents such personality that its disappearance would be a crime...as to the rare Vinifera, we are not overdoing it when we affirm that It will soon earn legendary status and will be fought over by all who value Gamay."
The Wine Advocate Issue 130 : "The 1998 Touraine Sauvignon’s smoky, floral, and lemon-imbued aromas explode from the glass. It is fresh, vibrant, crisp, medium-bodied, and offers lovely citrus fruit flavors. Readers searching for a dry, flavorful wines at a reasonable price should not miss this beauty. Drink it over the next year. Domaine de la Charmoise’s luxury bottling of Sauvignon Blanc is only made in the finest years. The 1997 Touraine Sauvignon "M" de Marionnet was aromatically muted when I tasted it, yet huge richness of fruit could be perceived. It is medium-to-full-bodied wine with super concentration layers of creamy candied grapefruits, as well as impeccable balance and focus. Older vintages of "M" de Marionnet have aptly demonstrated that these wines age gracefully, taking on additional complexity, elegance, and richness with cellaring. Projected maturity now-2010."
From Le Classement, 1999 Revue du Vin de France
"Monsieur Marionnet is the king of primeur wine in the Loire. He knew how to perfect the techniques of carbonic maceration to a degree unknown anywhere else. His Touraine Premieres Venganges possesses exquisite fruit, superior to that of all known Beaujolais and an unequaled velvetness of texture. His Gamay Cepages Oublies presents such personality that its disappearance would be a crime...as to the rare Vinifera, we are not overdoing it when we affirm that It will soon earn legendary status and will be fought over by all who value Gamay."
The Wine Advocate Issue 130 : "The 1998 Touraine Sauvignon’s smoky, floral, and lemon-imbued aromas explode from the glass. It is fresh, vibrant, crisp, medium-bodied, and offers lovely citrus fruit flavors. Readers searching for a dry, flavorful wines at a reasonable price should not miss this beauty. Drink it over the next year. Domaine de la Charmoise’s luxury bottling of Sauvignon Blanc is only made in the finest years. The 1997 Touraine Sauvignon "M" de Marionnet was aromatically muted when I tasted it, yet huge richness of fruit could be perceived. It is medium-to-full-bodied wine with super concentration layers of creamy candied grapefruits, as well as impeccable balance and focus. Older vintages of "M" de Marionnet have aptly demonstrated that these wines age gracefully, taking on additional complexity, elegance, and richness with cellaring. Projected maturity now-2010."
