Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon 2021
Domaine des Baumard
Clos du Papillon is one of Savennières' legendary vineyards, and Baumard's stewardship of it produces a Chenin Blanc of extraordinary precision and longevity. This 2021 drinks beautifully now but will reward cellaring for a decade or more. It's a wine that demands attention and repays it generously — a masterclass in how great terroir and great acidity can create something transcendent.
Nose
Precise and restrained, opening with green apple and citrus blossom before revealing deeper notes of honey, crushed stone, and a faint waxy quality. A gentle floral character — almost like dried chamomile — floats above the mineral core.
Palate
Medium-bodied with a taut, almost crystalline acidity that drives the wine forward. Green apple and quince fruit give way to a pronounced mineral salinity — this is Chenin Blanc shaped by schist and volcanic soils. Hints of marzipan and a subtle woodiness emerge on the mid-palate, adding richness without weight.
Finish
Very long, with citrus pith, green apple, and an unwavering minerality that seems to vibrate on the palate. The acidity carries everything to a clean, uplifting close.
- Varietal
- Chenin Blanc
- Blend
- 100% Chenin Blanc
- Vineyards
- Clos du Papillon, a south-facing hillside parcel on schist and volcanic rhyolite soils in Savennières
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
- Skin Contact
- No
Food Pairing
Pan-seared Dover sole with brown butter and capers
The Baumard family has tended vines in the Loire for four generations, and their butterfly-shaped Clos du Papillon vineyard in Savennières — named for its silhouette from above — produces one of France's most age-worthy dry Chenin Blancs.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Domaine des Huards Cour-Cheverny AOC Romo 2023
Domaine des Huards
Cour-Cheverny is the only AOC in France dedicated to the ancient Romorantin grape, and Domaine des Huards is its finest ambassador. This is a wine of place — the chalky soils and continental climate write themselves into every glass. If you've never tried Romorantin, this is where to start.
Domaine Weinbach Riesling Grand Cru Furstentum 2022
Domaine Weinbach
The Faller family's Grand Cru Furstentum Riesling showcases one of Alsace's warmest and most powerful sites, yet the 2022 vintage maintains stunning freshness. This is Riesling at its most complete — aromatic, textured, mineral, and built for the table.
Pietradolce Etna Bianco DOC 2023
Pietradolce
Pietradolce's Carricante vines grow at 700 meters on Etna's north face, rooted in millennia of lava flow. Winemaker Michele Faro handles the fruit with restraint — stainless steel only, no malolactic — letting the grape and the volcano speak. The result is one of Italy's most compelling white wines at a price that borders on absurd for this level of quality.
Benanti Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina 2022
Benanti
Pietra Marina is arguably Sicily's greatest white wine, and the 2022 vintage continues the tradition. Carricante from Etna's highest vineyards delivers a rare combination of power and precision — it has the depth to age but the freshness to drink now. If you want to understand what volcanic soil tastes like in a glass, start here.