Coteaux de l'Aubance

France · AOC · Loire Valley

Styles

Natural factors

7 communes, 50–90 m elevation, between the mouth of the Aubance in the Loire and the Cretaceous plateau of the Paris Basin (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Shallow soils over Armorican schist or schisto-sandstone bedrock, with low water retention and good thermal behaviour (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Localised outcrops of rhyolites and spilites (acidic/basic eruptive formations) to the west, yielding very stony soils
A foehn effect caused by the relief of the Choletais and Mauges reduces rainfall to only ~585 mm/year, compared with ~800 mm in the Choletais

Human factors

The vineyard's identity emerged in the late 19th century following the phylloxera crisis, when growers from the Layon planted the Chenin B grape variety
The AOC was recognised in 1950 for a white wine produced from overripe grapes harvested in successive tries, a practice borrowed from the Layon

Product characteristics

White wines with aromas of white fruits, citrus, flowers, and overripeness (dried/candied fruits), with a balance of sugar, acidity, and structure
Capable of ageing over several decades, developing finesse and complexity

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.