Folie Insolente 2020 - Nicolas Barbou

This 2020 Touraine-Oisly Folie Insolente is a white wine from the Loire Valley produced by Nicolas Barbou from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, grown on vines around 15 years old planted in sandy-clay soils. The vines are tended using methods closely aligned with organic viticulture, and the grapes are harvested by hand before being pressed as whole bunches. Spontaneous fermentation and 20 months’ ageing in oak barrels, with only a small proportion of new wood, allow the Sauvignon Blanc to develop a rich and distinctive character. The nose reveals intense aromas of passion fruit and exotic fruits, accompanied by notes of sweet spices and star anise. On the palate, this 2020 Touraine-Oisly offers a full-bodied and lively texture, with lovely length, an energetic finish and a slight bitterness that adds depth. Produced in a limited run of just 2,100 bottles, the 2020 Folie Insolente cuvée exemplifies Nicolas Barbou’s precise and minimally interventionist winemaking and his personal approach to Loire Sauvignon. Ideal with fish, shellfish, citrus-based dishes, goat’s cheese or poultry in a creamy sauce, this Touraine white wine will appeal to lovers of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, terroir-driven wines and wines by Nicolas Barbou.