XXI Vin de France

A white wine with history: The XXI Vin de France was born from an exceptional year – severe frost decimated the harvest, and Didier Dagueneau responded with a cuvée that was bottled outside the classic appellation but bears the unmistakable fingerprint of the house.

Domaine Didier Dagueneau from Pouilly-sur-Loire is one of the most defining addresses of the Loire. The late Didier Dagueneau (died 2008), once known as the "wild man of the Loire," established a style that redefined Sauvignon Blanc: Burgundian-style aging, with long lees aging, far removed from aromatic complacency. Today, his children continue to run the winery in the same spirit.

In the glass, the XXI shows a clear, lively structure: notes of white peach and citrus zest, plus a fine herbal line and a mineral undertone reminiscent of flint. The texture is dense, the acidity present, the finish long and salty.

• Food: Roasted sea bass, scallops with butter, goat cheese from the Loire
• Temperature: 10–12 °C