This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Domaine les Grandes Vignes (Vaillant)
La Varenne du Poirier Anjou Chenin Blanc 2017
Pale yellow. Expressive nose is ripe, honeyed, smoked and wooly. In the mouth, it’s fresh and precise, with green apple and pear, underlying saltiness and a crisp, mineral finish. Lovely, elegant Chenin Blanc from schist, aged one year in 400-liter older barrels. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Domaine de Bellivière (Eric Nicolas)
Les Rosiers Jasnières Chenin Blanc 2017
Deep yellow. Nose has straightforward aromas of honey and orchard fruit. But this is very precise on the palate, a core of snaking acidity amid the apple and pear notes, and a long finish that’s a balance of fruit and minerality. Blended from 10 to 50 year old vines. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Agnès et René Mosse
Le Rouchefer Chenin Blanc 2018
The delicate nose is full of cut pear blossom, cut flower stem and a hint of forest floor. In the mouth, it’s luscious, offering beeswax, orange marmalade and peach jam, plus fresh acidity and a saltiness on the finish that balances everything. Lovely and complex. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Domaine La Grange Tiphaine
Nouveau Nez Montlouis-sur-Loire Chenin Blanc 2018
Pétillant natural made from 100% Chenin Blanc. Thick creamy mousse. Such a sunny, happy nose, notes of morning toast with apricot jam, touch of honey. Bright and lively on the palate, with great dancing acidity throughout, with layers of nuttiness and minerality leading to a lingering, stony finish. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Domaine Huet
Le Mont Moelleux Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2009
A very spice-driven wine. Deep golden. Unique aromas of strawberry, as well as notes of cumin and turmeric that carry onto the palate, which is unctuous with lots of honey, apricot. Fascinating. 58 grams per liter residual sugar. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Champalou
Brut Vouvray Chenin Blanc
A blend of three vintages — 2016, 2015, 2014 — aged two years on the lees, and bottled with low dosage. Pretty, delicate and balanced, featuring notes of citrus blossom, wet earth, clay, flint and lots of lime zest, and delivering precise, crisp, piercing acidity. Classic dry Vouvray sparkling. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
François Chidaine
Les Bournais Franc de Pied Montlouis-sur-Loire Chenin Blanc 2017
Also from the Le Bournais plot, but from 20 specific rows of ungrafted grapes. The volume has been turned up on flavors and aromas here. The fragrant nose reveals notes of grilled herb, beeswax and honey, and smokiness and saltiness carry through the dense palate into a long mineral finish. Fresh, powerful and ageworthy. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Domaine du Closel-Château des Vaults
La Jalousie Savennières Chenin Blanc 2016
Golden. Nose full of beeswax, apricot, and a bit of smoke. On the palate, it’s wildly fresh, racy and complex, with ruby red grapefruit, underripe strawberry, and a linger hint of attractive smoke throughout. Lovely introduction to Savennières. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Domaine Bernard Baudry
La Croix Boissée Chinon Blanc Chenin Blanc 2018
A surprising Chenin Blanc from Chinon’s tuffeau soils, the result of long, long fermentation (12 months) in 500-liter barrel. On the nose, wet earth, citrus blossom and honeysuckle, then full-bodied with lots of peach, clementine and even mango flavors, a salty core, and a dry, stony finish. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago
Delectable Wine
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Quiet, elegant nose of beeswax, ripe pear and smoke. Rambunctious, lively and textured in the mouth, bursting with grilled lemon and green apple plus notes of salt and smoke, all underpinned by smooth stoniness. A cool, youthful wine that is full of energy. (Jason Wilson, Vinous, July 2020)
— 4 years ago