All you need to know about Menetou Salon AOC

Situated on the outskirts of Bourges, between the Pays Fort Sancerrois and Champagne Berrichonne, the Menetou-Salon vineyards cover almost 650 hectares spread over 10 communes, including Menetou-Salon, Aubinges, Morogues and Parassy. Despite its smaller surface area compared with some neighbouring vineyards, the Menetou-Salon vineyard has continued to develop and gain notoriety since obtaining its AOC in 1959.

Best known for its white wines, the Menetou-Salon appellation is also becoming better known for its very fine red wines and particularly fruity, mineral rosés.

During the Secondary Era, the sea covered this part of the Loire Valley, forming limestone sediments rich in fossilised shells (including those little comma-shaped oysters). This homogeneous bedrock, essentially made up of Kimmeridgian marl, is particularly well-suited to the development of two emblematic grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc for white wines and Pinot Noir for reds and rosés.

The Menetou-Salon vineyards are characterised by limestone soils that are well draining and rich in minerals. This gives the appellation's white wines a marked freshness, while the reds are more supple and rounded.

With its temperate, semi-continental climate, Menetou-Salon also benefits from the mildness of the nearby Loire river. The rather warm summers and often cool winters allow the Sauvignon Blanc to develop a highly expressive aromatic bouquet, while the Pinot Noir acquires a fine maturity, producing elegant wines without heaviness.

The relatively moderate rainfall, concentrated in the shoulder seasons, also allows the vines to develop without excessive vigour or major water stress.

Pinot noir is a grape variety renowned for its finesse, but Menetou-Salon offers a particularly good terroir for expressing aromas of red fruits (cherry, raspberry), ripe plums, and sometimes even hints of sweet spices and even candied fruit on the finish.

Menetou-Salon red wines are long and round on the palate, with delicate tannins that bring out the fruit. Unlike other more powerful appellations, Menetou-Salon reds are can be drunk in their early years. It will appeal as much to Pinot Noir enthusiasts keen on freshness as to those curious to discover a light, versatile red wine for the table.

Although they represent a more modest proportion of production, Menetou-Salon rosé wines more than deserve their place in this article. Made from Pinot Noir grapes, they reveal an elegant aromatic profile with notes of red berries and grapefruit.

Rich yet fresh, these rosés are surprisingly fresh and go well with summer meals (salads, grilled meats, tapas) and even exotic dishes (Asian cuisine, marinated fish, etc.).

The majority of the appellation's grape varieties (70% are Sauvignon Blanc), the white wines of Menetou-Salon reveal aromas of white flowers, citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemon) and sometimes sweet spices. On the palate, the wine has a lively attack, followed by an angular structure and a rather mineral, subtly spicy or slightly mentholated finish.

This characteristic freshness makes Menetou-Salon white particularly enjoyable as an aperitif. It also goes well with seafood, grilled fish or fish in sauce, and even certain regional goat's cheeses.

Although the white wines of Menetou-Salon are generally best enjoyed young (1 to 3 years), some estates have opted for longer ageing, producing vintages that can be enjoyed for 5 to 8 years.

The same applies to the reds, which can be enjoyed in their early years (2 to 5 years) or after several years of ageing (5 to 8 years).

Finally, rosés are best enjoyed within a year or two of bottling, to retain their freshness and fruitiness.

Menetou-Salon white wines are best served between 8 and 10°C to bring out their citrus notes and floral aromas.

Red wines should be enjoyed at a temperature that is neither too low nor too high, especially when young. A temperature of between 14 and 16°C is ideal for bringing out the finesse of the tannins and the typical fruitiness of Pinot Noir. Note in passing that it is not necessarily necessary to decant a Menetou-Salon red wine, but that a little aeration (1 to 2 hours before tasting) can allow the wine to reveal more complexity.

Finally, Menetou-Salon rosés should be enjoyed well chilled, at around 8°C. This temperature preserves the freshness and fruitiness of the wine without altering its delicate aromas.