Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
Drought and scorching heat during the summer marked this very interesting vintage. Bottled in January 2020. A bit of grassiness as well as menthol and mineral-like notes infuse the perfectly ripe white fruit, notably pear. An overall impression of focused clarity and minerality, as well as a silky texture for a 2018 that is taut and weightless. Has real ageing potential. 30 hl/ha.
-
Wine Spectator
An extremely minerally style, with wet stone and sel gris accents up front. Korean pear, quince and yellow apple flavors emerge, followed by thyme and pickled ginger details midpalate, exhibiting full intensity. Hints of white pepper meet the mineral elements that circle back on the mouthwatering finish. Best from 2022 through 2035.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From 40-year-old vines on schist and volcanic rocks and aged in oak for 14 months (plus two months in tanks), the 2018 Savennières Clos du Papillon opens with a bright, pure, intense and multifaceted bouquet of crushed stones, lemon oil, ripe pears and floral aromas. Round and fascinatingly finessed on the palate, this is a very elegant, dense and persistently salty Papillon with an intense, round (almost sweet) and sustainable finish. A great wine again that deserves another couple of years of bottle aging.
-
Wine Enthusiast
From one of the best-known vineyards in Savennières, this rich wine is packed with yellow fruits laced with citrus and almond flavors. The richness is still young and vibrant with acidity. With time the wine will deepen and become more concentrated. Drink from 2021.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Known for its delightful whites and sparkling Pétillant and Mousseux, made predominantly of Chenin blanc, Anjou has a temperate and dry maritime climate. The region's limited temperature variations are admiringly referred to locally as the “douceur angevine,” or “Anjou sweetness.” Fruit forward rosé and red wines from Cabernet Franc and Gamay merit Anjou its success within the Loire subregions.