Moulin Touchais, Coteaux du Layon 1986, Loire, France

Quite simply, one of France’s great wines, but little known. The Touchais family have farmed in the Layon and produce this wonderful sweet wine from 30 hectares of old vines. 20% of the crop is harvested under-ripe to retain high levels and the remainder are late picked. Combined for a slow fermentation in old wood, no wine leaves the cellar until ten years old.

The wine has a deep gold to amber colour, nose of apricot and fig allied to an extremely long palate of honey dried fruit and freshening acidity.

Vintage may vary from that shown in the image.