2022 VDF 'Les Noëls de Montbenault'
Marie-Lise & Thomas Batardière
Regular price
$125
750ml
Sale
Thomas planted this 0.25ha plot in 2014. This lieu-dit is one of the most beautiful spots in Anjou, and the parcel sits on top of the hill. Richard Leroy (the Batardières' next door neighbour and mentor) makes his famous wine from this site - perhaps the best Chenin in the world! The site is made up of grey and blue schist, as well as lots of rhyolite, a red volcanic rock rich in silica. Certified biodynamic. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged in Alsatian foudre for 11 months, then another two months in tank before bottling. Not fined or filtered. 12.5%.
Epic noble reduction and you can tell it's humming underneath. Super stony with pear, lime and fresh stream running over pebbles. This is the first year that the wine has a similarity to that of Richard Leroy's version, with an energising tingle on the palate. Underneath is a zingy texture with flavours of lime, rocks, elderflower and sweet lemon. There are weighty Chenins, and there are more chiseled ones. This sits in the middle, and has so much pizzazz. Plenty of material and mid palate density, yet light and lifted. Perfectly harmonious with a long satisfying, intensely mineral finish. One of the best Chenins I've tasted, and their most exciting work to date. Exceptional!
Loire Valley
2022
Chenin Blanc
VDF
