Vanessa

9.2

“Nothing added, nothing removed” is a phrase some use to describe the philosophy of low-intervention (or “natural”) winemaking. 🌱

The winemaker is like a vessel, carrying Mother Nature’s gifts from the land (and vintage) to your glass, where each sip can transport you to a particular place and time.

Nicolas Joly is an illustrious vigneron revered for his deep commitment to biodynamics and minimal intervention winemaking. 👏 He leads his family’s estate – Famille Joly – located in the prestigious appellation of Savennières in the Anjou-Saumur region of Loire Valley and specializes in top quality, cerebral, age-worthy dry whites made from the Chenin Blanc grape.

This takes patience, strength, and resilience for which the seahorse is a spiritual symbol (among other things). 🌊 It’s no wonder the Famille Joly features this beautiful, gentle creature on its bottle and labels.

This wine comes from ‘Les Vieux Clos’ where vines are harvested at 25 hL/ha which is HALF of the appellation’s allowance of 50 hL/ha.  👀

As a result of favorable growing conditions and these low yields, the grapes were allowed to become ripe, which explains the high alcohol at 14% ABV and round but balanced fruit expression.

This wine underwent a wild fermentation, followed by a natural malolactic conversion (MLC), and then it aged 12 months in large neutral oak with no fining or filtering before bottling.

The color is pale gold. On the nose and palate are harmonious notes of yellow apple, quince, papaya, dried orange peel, citrus blossom, chamomile, ginger, saffron, cinnamon, cream, white pepper, lanolin, wet slate …

It has power and elegance, nuance and vibrancy, with a persistent finish.  We think it pairs nicely with the baked herb & lemon salmon, asparagus and couscous.

Cheers to winemakers who share a piece of their land and heritage with the world one glass at a time! 🥂🥂🥂
— 5 hours ago

with Deked1

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Outstanding, showing primary and tertiary 50/50, lovely yellow and white fruits, salinity, some oxygen taking hold, florals, lanolin, and excellent acidity drives this into a long, complex finish. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Chilled and opened about an hour before dinner and allowed to gently come to temp. Served alongside charcoal grilled Thai sausage, sticky rice, coconut Thai curry, herb salad, shallot, lime, garlic, chiles. Tonight, this bottle was nothing short of remarkable. A deep golden color with gorgeous notes of squishy tropical fruit, white flowers, and turmeric. Wooly and waxy with acid for dayzzz. Stunning now but this bottle would show well through 2029 without breaking a sweat. — 22 days ago

Robert Swart

9.0

Crisp with subtle notes of brioche. — a month ago

Justin M

9.3

Heavily perfumed and very tasty — 2 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

Yellow. Oak, chalk and minerals. Citrus, honeysuckle. Ripen. High viscosity. Rich, crispy. Albert Bichot Bourgogne Chardonnay VV 2020 @2178, Uki, 240601-240708 — 6 months ago

B. Tutar

9.4

Lovely notes of petrol, pear and very juicy compared to german rieslings — 13 hours ago

Stephanie Wu

9.0

Bosc pear and white flowers. Balanced acidity. Having this on election night — 18 days ago

Raul Puga

8.9

East to drink and enjoy — a month ago

Chip Habegger

9.2

Wonderful acidity zips through the mouth. Initial nose is of peaches and moves into elderflowers and white grape jelly. Despite the sweet smell stays dry. Medium-long finish with a rich mouthfeel. — 4 months ago