Yeah, and the current release seems to have gone up from there. Saw the 2023 for $55
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Speaking of 2023, do you have any insight into post-2021 vintages? Are they all solar?
2024 is the closest return to 2021, but haven’t tasted any yet from the Loire. 2022 and 2023 both ripe and probably qualify as ‘solar’.
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2022 is definitely a solar vintage for whites, more so I think than 2020.
2023 is a lot more complicated.
The Muscadets I have tried have been solar and ripe, without perhaps the concentration of the very best vintages. The few Sauvignon Blancs I’ve dipped into have given me the same impression.
For Chenins, however, it’s a mixed bag. It rained in September, sometimes just before the harvest, leading to rot and wines of variable quality. I liked the Chidaines I tried during my visit there in May and I’ve much enjoyed the two opened since, but I found the Plaisance Ronceray to be rather weak and diluted, so for me, it’s a vintage to sample before buying lots of (if you can’t try the wines before buying, buy only one or two before buying a case). One good point though is that they do taste fresher than the 2022s, with lower ABV levels.
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This was my impression from 2023 Anjou wines (both Chenin and Cab Franc). Can be surprisingly fresh, but I’m sure some wines are also dilute as well. Try before you buy.
I haven’t tried Touraine wines from 2023, but sounds like the rains helped with the freshness (per your note about the Chidaine).
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Followed up my recent bottles with 2022 Ogereau Anjou Vent de Spilite, which was remarkably brisk, mineral and almost-linear. Made me think of limestone/silex chenin, although not sure how much spilite really shares in common there compared to the local Anjou schist. Not the same elegant refinement of the Savennières Beaupréau, but very delicious in its own precise way, despite the 2022 weight also being present. I agree, something to follow.
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Nice. I ended up getting a case of the 2020 after seeing the @Chris_Kissack recommendation and have already polished off four bottles. I also have a six pack of the 2021 which I have not tried yet. FWIW, I like the 2020 Vent de Spilite better than the 2021 Savennieres, finding the former has more pronounced acidity and mineral characteristics while the latter is rounder despite the vintage difference.
Interesting. Probably a terroir thing. Perhaps someone can enlighten us!
I liked both bottlings for different reasons. The Savennières Beaupréau does have elegance that I respect, but even if simpler, I am a sucker for the brisk directness expressed in the Vent de Spilite.
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Tonight had a 1995 Domaine de la Fontainerie Vouvray Sec. Fading a bit, but still quite interesting:
Smells a bit like rubber boots, with a hint of soy sauce. Taste is concentrated lemon pith that transitions into fallen autumn leaves. Very balanced, with kind of a subtly long finish. Still some acidity, but fading somewhat. 90 points.
What I thought was interesting was the “rubber boots” note is something I had on a tasting note from the 2019 vintage of the same wine. It’s different than the wooly note that I’ve gotten in many of the Huets and some other older Vouvrays that I’ve had. Also noted the “fallen leaves” aspect too that I’ve seen before in Domaine de la Fontanerie wines. Seems like a bit of an underrated producer.
2022 Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Bourg Brézé - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (8/27/2025)
First experience with this bottling. Light chenin notes on the nose, decent depth of flavor, with nice acidity, some light minerality, a bit of saline. Pleasant, correct, but not showing a lot of complexity at this young age. A few years should flesh it out and bring a little more interest. Still, it’s an enjoyable wine, and a good example pf the variety. (90 points)