Les Pierres Girard 2022 is the single-vineyard dry white Anjou from the Domaine de la Bergerie. Its name refers to a specific plot in the Guégniard family’s vineyard in Champ-sur-Layon—one of those schist plots where Chenin Blanc expresses a unique minerality and tension, quite distinct from the estate’s other white wines.
The Pierres Girard terroir—schist of the Anjou Noir
The Domaine de la Bergerie vineyard is planted on the spilitic schists of the “Anjou Noir”—those metamorphosed volcanic rocks with purplish hues that characterize the Layon and Champ-sur-Layon regions. In this poor, porous, well-drained soil, the Chenin Blanc plunges its roots deep in search of water and minerals. The result: naturally low yields, concentrated grapes, and wines with remarkable saline minerality—the hallmark of the great dry whites of the Anjou Noir.
The Pierres Girard plot benefits from a favorable exposure on the Layon, with slow and steady ripening made possible by the hillside’s microclimate. The estate has been managed under certified organic farming for many years—respect for the soil, hand-harvesting, and no chemical inputs. The work of a patient winemaker, carried on by the same family for 8 generations.
Winemaking
100% Chenin Blanc, vinified as a dry white wine. Gentle pressing, slow fermentation in tanks, aged on fine lees to preserve the freshness and natural minerality of the terroir. No oak aging—the wood would mask the finesse of the schist soils that this cuvée seeks to express. The Chenin is showcased in its purity and natural tension.
Tasting Notes
Color: pale yellow with golden highlights, brilliant.
Nose: elegant and precise. White fruits (pear, apple, quince), white flowers (acacia, hawthorn), citrus (lemon, bergamot), a light note of flint. The minerality of the schist shines through from the very first whiff.
Palate: taut, straightforward, mineral. Fresh attack, full-bodied mid-palate with richness and substance, salty and lingering finish. The balance between the richness of Chenin and the tension of the schist is the defining characteristic of this cuvée. Beautiful length, with subtle, noble bitterness on the finish that adds depth.
Serving: at 12–14°C. Decant lightly if the bottle has a screw cap or cork. Peak drinking window: 2025–2030.
Food and Wine Pairings
Les Pierres Girard 2022 is a dry, versatile, and elegant Chenin designed for fine dining:
Seafood and fish: oysters, clams, scallops in cream sauce, sole meunière, sea bass in a salt crust, turbot with beurre blanc. The wine’s salty minerality pairs naturally with seafood.
Poultry and white meats: lemon-roasted chicken, guinea fowl with mushrooms, veal in cream sauce, sweetbreads. The Chenin’s fullness holds its own against creamy dishes.
Cheeses: fresh or aged goat cheeses (Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, Crottin de Chavignol), young Comté, high-quality Brie. Dry Chenin from the Loire is the natural pairing for goat cheeses from the Loire region.
Appetizers: white asparagus with hollandaise sauce, mushroom risotto, leek and goat cheese quiche.
Discover the estate’s other dry white wines: Les Zerzilles 2022, and the Savennières La Croit Picot 2021 , as well as the Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 2017 for lovers of great sweet wines from the Loire.
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