2018 VDF 'Montbenault'
Regular price
$90
750ml
Sale
Made from young vines, Thomas planted this 0.25ha plot in 2014. And so, this is only the first wine made from this site. Monbenault is one of the most beautiful spots in Anjou, and the parcel sits on top of the hill. It is made up of grey and blue schist, as well as lots of rhyolite, a red volcanic rock rich in silica. The wine spent 8 months in stainless steel, and then 4 months in old 500L barrels. Bottled without SO2.
Gently reductive, not too giving initially. Patience… this might be one to decant. Reduction blows of fairly quickly. Smells frosty fresh. Please don’t rush this wine. Wait, be patient. Make it very cold, then decant - allow it to wake up and reveal itself. Lemon, lime, crisp apple smell. Apple skin, apple flesh. This is way more crisp and there is no oxidation. Schist and purity. This unravels itself in the mouth. Opens up, and layers fall outwards, delivering pure pleasure. Handled so well. You can understand what is possible from this site in years to come. It's very exciting. And even for this first vintage, it is knockout. We have a light texture and subtle flavours. It is mildly generous, and delivers pure pleasure. Lemon, lime, apple, snow, schist – all mild in weight and delivery, and with medium plus acidity that isn’t too overt – just pleasant and inviting. You really have to give this wine time – please do it justice, you will be rewarded. Length, tautness and tension. Lime on the rocks. Green and yellow apple sorbet. Rocks, rocks, rocks! Let’s be real here - for 2018, it over delivers. Get on it and see what its about. Such purity on the nose now. Ski slope, icy fresh, mountain air smell. No ripeness to taste, just clarity of fruit. Damn it’s good. Lemon and lime on the rocks, and lingering acidity that isn’t too sharp. Bam, still going. What a wine!
