Nice fresh Chenin, a little weightier but a little less defined than their primary vineyard, Chant le Vigne. I don’t know if this is a younger vineyard or what. This is a tiny place (under 300 cases), but they are committed to dry Chenin with traditional methods and I have liked their Chant le Vigne in the last few years very much. This is a second vineyard, and there is a third vineyard planted right behind the house on the property that is still too young. We visited in April, and they are so tiny that they were joking about planting vines in the flower beds around the house. Nice source of dry chenin, but the next couple of years will be lean because of the vintages. (I don’t know if they’ll actually release a 2012).
Haven’t had this wine, but I have been digging the Chant de Vigne from 2008 and even 2009. Still haven’t popped a 2010, but I bet it will be good.
I like the 2008 Chant quite a bit. The 2010 is a weightier wine and still quite young last time I had it. No hurry.
i haven’t run across Mianville in the neighborhood, but am much taken with Bellivieres Rosiers.
The Rosiers is a nice wine, just sweeter and less acidity than the Mianville. Envoyer offers both these wines.
The Bellivieres has a very intense chalkiness, which I like. would be interested to know if the Mianville is similar.
There are plenty of minerals and acid if that’s what you are asking. And the wines are all vinified dry. Christine is clear she wants to make dry wines that will age. I haven’t had the Bellivieres so I can’t compare. You won’t find the de Mianville wines in your neighborhood. They make less than 300 cases, and the only places outside of France that they send wine are Envoyer and someplace in Australia (I think Christine said Sydney).