Domaine de la Croix Mélier

In 2017, the wine estate La Croix Mélier has been passed down from Pascal Berthelot, who was from a long-established family of wine growers in the Loire Valley, on the hillsides of Husseau (hamlet on the east side of Montlouis-sur-Loire), South of the Loire. The domaine spreads over twelve hectares nestled on the left bank of the Loire, between Tours and Amboise, at Montlouis-sur-Loire. This is where chenin blanc has found its perfect home, thriving on soils that have shaped the character of Loire wines for centuries.

The 16 hectares of vines are planted on hillsides composed of clay, sand and flint on the surface, with tuffeau (chalk) in depth, offering an exceptional terroir for Chenin. The flint stores heat during the day and releases it at night, which promotes the ripening of the grapes. The Tuffeau, accessible at variable depths depending on the sector, transmits finesse and strength of character to the wines. The combination creates ideal conditions for producing white wines with both minerality and elegance.

Philippe and Dominique Ivancic have managed the domaine since 2017. A neo-vigneron, after studies in viticulture and oenology at Beaune, Philippe previously had a long career as an actor and director, whose last production was particularly noticed and held the stage for a long time in 2015/16 "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck at the Théâtre du Palais Royal in Paris. Philippe and Dominique embarked with the same passion on this beautiful wine adventure. Concerned with respecting their terroir and the environment, Philippe and Dominique work their vines and vinify their wine according to organic specifications. The wines are certified in Organic Agriculture by Ecocert.

In the cellar, fermentations are conducted by indigenous yeasts and the wines are aged on fine lees in barrels for 9 to 14 months. This approach allows the terroir to express itself fully, bringing complexity and depth to each cuvée. The couple has reworked the domaine's range with a focus on fruit-forward profiles that work equally well at casual aperitifs or more refined dinners.

The Domaine de la Croix Mélier offers a wide range of wines: white, rosés, red… all of which bear the Touraine and Montlouis Appellation. The portfolio includes dry, semi-dry, sweet and sparkling expressions of chenin blanc, each showcasing different facets of this versatile grape. Notable cuvées include "Le Haut des Pions," a barrel-aged dry white with remarkable minerality, and "La Pièce qui Tourne," a sweet wine from old vines that demonstrates the domaine's ability to craft wines with both richness and freshness.