Clau de Nell : Chenin 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Clau de Nell Chenin 2022

Tasting notes

Appearance
The wine reveals a delicate pale golden hue, enhanced by bright silvery highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens on notes of ripe white fruits, such as peach and apricot. It is then enriched with nuances of verbena, warm herbs and sweet spices, all underscored by a subtle oakiness from its ageing in barrels.

Palate
With a silky texture, the palate offers a medium body supported by refreshing acidity. Generous flavours of yellow apple and quince unfold with precision, carried by a saline mineral framework and an assertive structure. The long, vibrant finish stretches out on touches of fresh herbs and a hint of salinity.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs beautifully with green asparagus in mousseline sauce, grilled fish or white meats. It will also enhance dishes with aromatic herbs, semi-hard cheeses, as well as fare with Asian accents or rich in umami, such as preparations based on seafood or mushrooms.

Serving and cellaring

This Chenin 2022 is not intended for immediate consumption; it has cellaring potential that will allow it to evolve favourably and gain in complexity over several years.

The precision and minerality of a great white Loire wine crafted by Clau de Nell

The estate

Located in the Loire Valley, the Clau de Nell estate has a history stretching back more than a century, to the beginning of the twentieth century. Committed to a form of viticulture respectful of living things, the property was acquired in 2008 by Anne-Claude Leflaive and her husband Christian Jacques in order to preserve its biodynamic heritage in the face of conventional agriculture. Today, Christian Jacques is the current owner and runs the estate with passion. Surrounded by a devoted team, he perpetuates the excellence and singular identity of this terroir, producing wines recognised for their purity and their great mineral expression.

The vineyard

Established in Anjou, the vineyard extends over a single 12-hectare plot with a full southern exposure. Isolated by forests and meadows, the vines benefit from a preserved ecosystem and rich biodiversity. The vine stocks, pruned in goblet fashion to naturally limit yields, thrive on soils composed of loamy sands and clay, resting on a deep subsoil of limestone tuffeau and red flint. The entire estate is managed according to the rigorous principles of biodynamics, certified Demeter.

The vintage

The year began with a particularly dry winter and spring. A cold March delayed budburst, followed by frost episodes in early April. In May, record rainfall and low temperatures slowed the growth cycle. Flowering, although late, took place quickly in mid-June under mild weather. The summer was punctuated by heatwaves, although overall cooler than previous years. Finally, stormy rains between mid-August and early September saved the harvest, allowing optimal ripeness to be reached for an early harvest starting in mid-September.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are hand-harvested in small crates before undergoing gentle pneumatic pressing to avoid excessive extraction. Fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts. The ageing of this Chenin 2022 first takes place on fine lees for twelve months in five-year-old Burgundy oak barrels, encouraging complexity without marking the wine with wood. It is then refined for six months in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

Grape variety

Chenin Blanc