Clos de la Frelonnerie - Montlouis-sur-Loire 2022
West of Montlouis-sur-Loire, a walled vineyard plunges its roots into a bedrock of yellow tuffeau topped with clayey sands. Resurrected by a team led by Alice Chidaine and the Bonnigal-Bodet winemakers, Clos de la Frelonnerie is a south-facing monopole, a protected estate where some vines are nearly 120 years old. The vineyard is managed meticulously, undergoing organic and biodynamic conversion, with precise soil work to reactivate microbial life and promote sustainable biodiversity. This enclave, facing the right bank of the Cher River, imparts a precise mineral tension and measured ripeness to the wines.
The 2022 vintage offers a luminous expression of the vineyard. Made entirely from Chenin Blanc, the wine is gently pressed and then vinified using traditional methods with minimal intervention to preserve the integrity of the fruit. Extended aging on fine lees, carried out at the estate in large containers, adds depth and refines the texture without masking the terroir's character. Bottling follows a low-intervention approach to retain the saline energy characteristic of the tuffeau soils.
The nose opens with hawthorn blossom, fresh pear, and ripe lemon, joined with aeration by a touch of quince, raw almond, and a hint of damp stone. The palate combines precision with restrained creaminess. The attack is clean, then the texture builds around a core of citrus and white fruit underscored by a chalky texture. The savory mid-palate unfolds nuances of crisp apple, verbena, and very subtle acacia honey. The finish is long, dry, and mouthwatering, with a touch of flint and a delicate salinity that prolongs the persistence.
At the table, this vintage pairs well with oysters and shellfish, a citrus-infused pike-perch ceviche, steamed cod loin with lemon butter, or roasted free-range poultry with herbs. It also complements asparagus risotto or a hard cheese such as a mature Comté, whose sweetness balances the wine's acidity.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
