Chappellet makes a pretty good one — might be around $40, however.
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I feel like their Sec bottles have hade more concentration and sweetness in recent vintages. That would have been my top response to the OP’s question.
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Though remember they were using a lot more sulphur back then than they are now
My budget chenin buy is always Pinon
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I’d say SA is the go to region for this. Phil’s suggestions are good.
If you want ultra cheap, Tete de Lion is about $13 Canadian incl taxes and quite drinkable.
But I’d also encourage you to expand the budget up for some exploratory purchases , SA offers great CB values across the board. Many examples in other threads.
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Chateau de Fesles Anjou Chenin Sec is consistently fine wine at a very modest price.
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Good point on sulfur. And re: Pinon - I totally agree, although I’d steer clear of 2018, where they didn’t deal well with the heat.
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Thanks, Richard.
Just to clarify: my regular budget is 15 to 25 euro per bottle, for exploratory purchases it’s 25 to 40 euro. Once I think that I like and understand a grape variety/region, I do occasionally spend more than that for bottles that I want to cellar and revisit with age. However for cb I’m not at that point yet–I’m in the getting acquainted stage at the moment.
Paul, when I was at the “getting acquainted” stage with Loire Chenin Blanc, these two wines opened my eyes. The Anjou Blanc is dry, but rich; the Coteaux du Layon is sweet, but lively.
Both available online at decantalo.de
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Most of what I would add falls under “pile on.” And, of course, it is all dependent on availability. That I don’t know so just throwing names out there. First, I do agree that the Lena Filliatreau bottling is a very good wine, more so for the fair price.
From the USA, Leo Steen might be up your alley.
From France, Baumard from Savennières seems to get little respect these days. I don’t see new vintages but had good experiences with them in the past. I also tend to enjoy Closel, also, from Savennières, but recognize that styles may have changed over the years and people are less excited than perhaps they once were.
Huet is Huet. The domaine under new-ish ownership seems okay to me but prices crept up over what I want to experiment with.
Agree with some that Le Peu de la Moriette (J.C. Pichot) is good (Vouvray). I have had good experiences with Aubuisières and prices are good. Agree with others about Pinon, very good producer. Chidaine on the same level. Perhaps try Château d’Epiré. Frantz Saumon in Montlouis worth a shot. Same for Domaine du Viking. Pascal Janvier comes to mind too.
I used to like Mosse from the Loire but it seems like the kids are taking it in a natty direction.
You might want to try the Baudry domaine Chenin Blanc from Chinon if you like the Filliatreau.
South Africa sort of specializes in Chenin Blanc (some used to call the variety Steen). Not sure what’s available where you are at. Prices for better bottles seem high to me in terms of QPR.
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Ty so much for these recs. I really appreciate this. I’ll turn this into a list and post it here at one point. This might come handy for future posters with similar questions
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I just checked:
The merchant that I would like to order from offers these producers that were mentioned here: Baumard, Huet, Chateau Yvonne, and Reyneke. These wines struck my interest:
Baumard
La Caléche 2022
Savennieres Clos du Papillon 2019
Huet
Vouvray Le Mont demi-sec 2022
Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux 2020
Vouvray Clos du Bourg sec 2021
Chateau Yvonne
Saumur Blanc Yvonne 2022
Reyneke
Organic - Chenin Blanc 2022
Any thoughts?
Here’s the long overdue list. I appreciate any improvement suggestions:
Loire
Savennieres
Domaine Baumard
Domaine du Closel
Château d’Epiré
Boudignon: Anjou
Damien Laureau
Cléré sur Layon
Domaine du Petit: Clocher Anjou Blanc 2022/ Clocher Coteaux du Layon 2022
Montlouis sur Loire
Frantz Saumon
Chidaine
Touraine
Domaine du Viking
Jasnieres
Pascal Janvier
Domaine de la Roche Bleue: Jasnieres
Vouvray
Huet
Pichot: Le Peu de la Moriete Vouvray/ Le Peu de la Moriette (JC Pichot)
Domaine de Aubuisieres: Cuvee de Silex
Pinon: Vigneau-Chevreau: cuvee Silex
Champalou: Vouvray ‘Sec’, Vouvray “Les Fondaux”
Saumur
Guiberteau
Chateau Yvonne: Saumur Blanc
Coteau de Sonnay
Bernard Baudry: Chinon Domaine white
Saint Lambert du Lattay
Ogereau
Bonnezeaux
Chateau de Fesles: Anjou Chenin Sec
Faveraye-Machelle
Julien Delrieu
Chinon
Baudry: domaine Chenin Blanc
North America
Chappellet
Leo Steen
South Africa
Laibach: Sur Lie Chenin
Villiera: Barrel Fermented Chenin
Ken Forrester: Old Vine Reserve
Mullineux: Kloof Street Old Vine
Reyneke Organic
Badenhorst: Secateurs, single vineyards,
Alheit Vineyards
Patatsfontein
Robertson: Tete de Lion
Domaine de la Roche Bleue Jasnières is good and even better with a some age on it.
Thanks, I don’t have access to this, but added it to the list.
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No Anjou recommendations?
A couple of Anjous that were mentioned. I think the way that I categorized producers in the list isn’t really helpful (location of proudcer), but I don’t know anything about the region.
“Boudignon Anjou is typically quite brisk and acid-driven in style, but it gets some lovely sense of breadth from the judicious use of oak. Ditto for Guiberteau whites.”
“Boudignon Anjou is typically quite brisk and acid-driven in style, but it gets some lovely sense of breadth from the judicious use of oak. Ditto for Guiberteau whites.”
“Chateau de Fesles Anjou Chenin Sec is consistently fine wine at a very modest price.”
Domaine du Petit Clocher Anjou Blanc 2022
I mentioned Fesles. You obviously have extensive Chenin knowledge here, I was asking for your own recommendations for Anjou, but I’m curious as to why it’s not part of your personal list.
Thank you.
Ah, I think now I understand. Thank you for your recommendation of Fesles.
I just compiled the general list on basis of the recommendations of producers and wines that others provided based on my OP here asking for concentrated Loire white wines. I hope that the list can prove useful for berserkers in the future.
The wines that I’m thinking of purchasing reflect what the vendor has in stock. With respect to Anjou, they only have: Chateau de Plaisance, Pierre Menard, and Leflaive (Clau de Nell). Within my budget range and preferences only the Le Clos Des Mailles Chenin Blanc 2022 (Pierre Menard) looks promising. Since none of these producers were mentioned, I did not think of including them. Should I?
Does that make sense?
Yes, thanks.
Oddly enough, of the three you mention the only one I’ve had is Menard. It is excellent, but somewhat more expensive than Fesles, which I like just as well.
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Added to Loire wines of interest that my vendor holds:
Le Clos Des Mailles Chenin Blanc 2022 (Pierre Menard)