Definition: bonnezeaux

An AOC appellation produced in the Loire Valley, in Anjou, in the commune of Thouarcé. Made from Chenin Blanc grapes, Bonnezeaux is a sweet wine with a very long ageing potential, to be drunk between 5 and 15 years. It can be very appealing when tasted young, with its fruity character. A former grand cru of the Coteaux-du-Layon, it is a complex, rich, balanced and very elegant wine, with a hint of acidity and citrus notes. Vinified as a sweet white wine, the grapes must be overripe, with or without noble rot, and harvested by hand in successive passes. Area under production: 105 hectares.