1999 Coteaux de Layon Beaulieu, Jo Pithon, Loire, France, Coteaux de Layon

Coteaux du Layon is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for sweet white wine in the Loire Valley wine region of France. Coteaux du Layon is situated in the Anjou district of the region, along the river Layon, which is a tributary of the Loire River. Six of the villages (communes), namely Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Faye-d'Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay are allowed to add their name to that of the appellation. The best vineyards are generally located on the north bank of the Layon, where they enjoy a good sun exposure on roughly south-facing slopes. Coteaux du Layon including its enclave appellations cover about 1,400 hectares.

The wines of Coteaux du Layon are all made from Chenin Blanc, locally often called Pineau de la Loire. Often, the grapes are harvested when they are affected by noble rot, but can also be very ripe or have sun-dried on the vine, so-called passerillé grapes. While Coteaux du Layon wines are never dry, the level of sweetness varies.

Jo Pithon possessed an estate of 12 hectares located in the valley of the Loire at 25 Km south of Angers. In 2005 it was acquired by Philippe Fournier. Together with the known oenologist Stéphane Derenoncour he began making wines under the label Domaine FL. This wine is therefore a historic wine as it were.

The Chenin grape makes a whole range of wines from dry to sweet to likoreus on various terroirs and appellations. The Chenin grape itself is little aromatic but translates wonderfully the terroir of the vineyard where he was born. Organic vineyard, cultivation of the soil, severe pruning, cutting away the superfluous leaf, manual defoliation for better ventilation of the grape harvest with various selections for both the dry and the sweet wines. The wines are aged for 12-24 months in oak barrels.

The Beaulieu vineyard is only 2 hectares.The underground includes slate and quartz responsible for the many minerals which are present.

1999 is considered as a very good vintage for this appellation.