A vibrant, aromatic, and beautifully mineral Pouilly-Fumé expression, showcasing Sauvignon Blanc at its freshest and most energetic.
The 2024 Cuvée Riquette bursts from the glass with citrus, peach, and fresh yellow fruit, balanced by lively acidity and a distinctive saline-mineral character. Generous enough to provide texture and richness, yet wonderfully precise and refreshing, this is an immediately appealing expression of Pouilly-Fumé.
Region: Loire Valley, France
Appellation: Pouilly-Fumé AOP
Vintage: 2024
Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 13% ABV
Soil: Caillottes – limestone and clay-limestone
Vinification: Stainless steel
Ageing: In tank, with time on the lees
Style: Dry White Wine
Cuvée Riquette comes from the domaine’s limestone-rich caillottes soils, which encourage an expressive, early-drinking style of Sauvignon Blanc with intense aromatics, freshness and mineral definition.
Nose:
Bright and expressive, with grapefruit, lemon, orange and mandarin joined by ripe peach and delicate floral notes. Subtle mineral nuances provide additional freshness and complexity.
Palate:
Energetic and beautifully focused. Vibrant citrus and ripe yellow fruit lead into a generous mid-palate, balanced by crisp acidity and an appealing saline quality.
Structure:
Medium-bodied, fresh and lively, yet with enough richness to give the wine excellent presence. The combination of ripe fruit and precise acidity creates a beautifully balanced expression of Sauvignon Blanc.
Finish:
Long, vibrant and refreshing, with lingering lemon, citrus zest, ripe fruit and a distinctive saline-mineral character.
Cuvée Riquette is one of Domaine de Bel Air’s most expressive interpretations of Pouilly-Fumé.
Produced from Sauvignon Blanc grown on caillottes, the limestone-rich soils encourage aromatic intensity and give the wine its distinctive freshness and mineral precision.
Compared with the deeper, slower-developing Cuvée des Acoins, Riquette is deliberately more immediate and energetic. It reveals its personality early, emphasizing vibrant citrus, fresh fruit and an appealing combination of richness and freshness.
The result is an elegant yet exuberant Pouilly-Fumé: aromatic, citrus-driven, mineral and wonderfully refreshing.
The 2024 vintage has produced an especially successful expression of Cuvée Riquette.
The wine combines ripe peach and citrus fruit with excellent freshness, tension and a pronounced saline character. The palate has enough generosity to add substance while staying energetic and precise.
It is already drinking beautifully and offers an excellent balance between youthful fruit, freshness and mineral complexity.
Drink now – 2030
The 2024 is particularly attractive when young, when its citrus aromatics and fresh fruit are most expressive.
It also possesses enough acidity and concentration to develop gracefully over several years, becoming rounder and more complex while retaining its mineral character.
Serving Temperature: 10–12°C
For maximum aromatic expression, avoid serving excessively cold. Around 11–12°C lets the fruit, texture, and minerality shine.
The combination of citrus freshness, ripe fruit, and saline minerality makes Cuvée Riquette a superb wine for seafood.
Excellent with:
Oysters · Caviar · Scallops · Shrimp · Langoustines · Crab · Grilled Sea Bass · Dover Sole · Sushi · Ceviche · Goat Cheese · Fresh Salads
Pair with fresh oysters, scallop crudo, or grilled langoustines.
The wine’s bright citrus character and saline finish make it particularly impressive with shellfish and other iodine-rich seafood.
For a classic Loire pairing, serve with fresh goat cheese; for something more luxurious, pair it with oysters or caviar, where the wine’s freshness and minerality provide a beautiful counterpoint to the richness and salinity of the dish.
