1996 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon

Winedoctor

• By Chris Kissack
  February 2023, 2/1/2023, (See more on Winedoctor...)

  (Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon White) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Rebecca Gibb MW
  Marking Milestones with Moulin Touchais (Apr 2021), 4/1/2021, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Moulin Touchais Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon White) Login and sign up and see review text.

Winedoctor

• By Chris Kissack
  February 2018, 2/1/2018, (See more on Winedoctor...)

  (Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon White) Login and sign up and see review text.

View From the Cellar

• By John Gilman
  Sep/Oct 2015, Issue #59, The Annual Loire Valley Report Vintages 2014, 2013 and a Bevy Of Older Bottles; Including Domaine Profiles on Coulée de Serrant, Moulin Touchais and Domaine Yannick Amirault

  (Coteaux du Layon- Moulin Touchais) Login and sign up and see review text.

Winedoctor

• By Chris Kissack
  September 2012, 9/1/2012, (See more on Winedoctor...)

  (Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon White) Login and sign up and see review text.

View From the Cellar

• By John Gilman
  Jan/Feb 2012, Issue #37, The Annual Loire Valley Report: The 2010 Vintage and Other Recently Tasted Gems

  (Coteaux du Layon- Moulin Touchais) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By John Gilman
  Sep/Oct 2009, Issue #23, The Annual Loire Valley Report- Plenty of Fine Wines Abound Amongst Current Releases from the 2008, 2007 and 2006 Vintages

  (Coteaux du Layon- Moulin Touchais) Login and sign up and see review text.

WineAlign

• By John Szabo, MS
  7/7/2009, (See more on WineAlign...)

  (Moulin Touchais Coteaux Du Layon, Coteaux Du Layon red) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By David Lawrason
  2/12/2009, (See more on WineAlign...)

  (Moulin Touchais Coteaux Du Layon, Coteaux Du Layon red) Login and sign up and see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  4/14/2010, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (MOULIN Touchais) Moulin Touchais Dear Friends, There are sacred properties in the wine-world, those that inspire a sense of reverence and loyalty due to their singular commitment from generation to generation. No fads, no new oak, no technology. Bourdy is one of those properties, here is another. Moulin Touchais is synonymous with the Loire. Like Huet or any of the great properties of the region, Touchais has not and will not deviate from their style, regardless of fashion. They create Coteaux du Layon and that is their signature. No red wine (that I know of) and little if any sec for their personal consumption. Moulin Touchais is about one wine and one style - an ultra-traditional, sweet Chenin Blanc that is aged for at least a decade at the property and released when they deem appropriate (the current release is 1999/2000). As an educational force, this wine is a lesson unto itself. Known to age for 50-75 years or more (vintages in the mid 1800's are still going strong - just like Bourdy), Moulin Touchais is justifiably proud of their heritage and it is quite obvious they are not in the game for money (how would you like to perform a job function only to receive compensation 10-15 years later, on occasion 20-30 years later? Maybe that's ok if it's a retirement plan but this is their only means of sustenance? Talk about one generation feeding the next). Passion is their driving force and so is terroir - one of the Loire's most admired (not necessarily for the perceived greatness of the land but for the legendary results captured in each bottle they choose to seal with the Moulin Touchais label). Below we have two standout vintages in the Loire, 1971 and 1996. Both capture the essence of this house and their non-botrytis style of residual Chenin Blanc. If you are used to Baumard Quarts de Chaume or even something like Cuvee Zenith from Renou, this wine will come as quite a shock. It is only mildly sweet by comparison with more of an emphasis on the overall fruit/sugar/acid balance and resulting complexity that comes with age. Keep in mind, Moulin Touchais does not reach full maturity for at least 20-30 years but it can also be enjoyed in youth for its eccentric leaning. To give you an idea of the style, here is David Schildknecht's review of the 1985 (the 1971 and 1996 have not been reviewed, you can check community notes - JR): "An iconic Loire estate, Moulin Touchais ferments in stainless and bottles after only 6-8 months, then holds wine back for at least a decade. These would, I suspect, seldom count among the elite of their appellation in any given vintage, but the opportunity to benefit from maturation and at reasonable prices should not be missed. While I tasted both younger and older current releases, two stood out. The Moulin Touchais 1985 Coteaux du Layon smells alluringly of baked apple, apple jelly, pink pineapple, and heady flowers. Lusciously rich on the palate, yet not lacking cut or clarity, it carries honey, baked apple and grapefruit into a long, rich, if not rivetingly complex finish. Heaven knows I would be delighted for the opportunity to sip a glass of either of these (1985 or 1989) in a restaurant, whether as aperitif, with foie gras, or in lieu of dessert" A singular producer with a singular style...doing things the way their ancestors did in the 1800's. This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with the finest provenance we can muster - it has never moved from the winery since bottling: 1971 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon 750ml 1996 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon 750ml Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Loire7198 Loire7897

Sommelier Journal

• By Charles Curtis, MW
  January 2009, (See more on Sommelier Journal...)

  (Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon, Loire Valley) At a recent tasting at Christie’s in New York, the 1996 displayed a deep straw-yellow color, with floral notes on the nose and a pronounced suggestion of honey and coconut—completely primary, showing no evolution at all. On the palate, the wine was rich and full-bodied, demonstrating balanced acidity and good length. Winery Spotlight: Moulin Touchais