Anne Claude Leflaive
Clau de Nell Chenin Blanc
Loire Valley, France
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep yellow with a transparent core and medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mixed orchard fruits, white flowers, undigested hay, honey and minerals. A touch wooly. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ and the texture is waxy. Initial conclusions: this could be Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or potentially Viura and even Chardonnay from France, Spain or the USA. However, this is made in a more oxidative style and it’s really hard to take this anywhere but France…maybe Spain if this were Rioja Blanco. But that wooly quality and texture has me in the Loire Valley. Final conclusion: Chenin Blanc from France, Loire Valley, Savennières with 5-10 years of age. Pretty darned close! Scoring points for sure. I gotta say, this almost gave me Joly vibes. Fun stuff. Drink now through 2032.
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep yellow with a transparent core and medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mixed orchard fruits, white flowers, undigested hay, honey and minerals. A touch wooly. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ and the texture is waxy. Initial conclusions: this could be Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or potentially Viura and even Chardonnay from France, Spain or the USA. However, this is made in a more oxidative style and it’s really hard to take this anywhere but France…maybe Spain if this were Rioja Blanco. But that wooly quality and texture has me in the Loire Valley. Final conclusion: Chenin Blanc from France, Loire Valley, Savennières with 5-10 years of age. Pretty darned close! Scoring points for sure. I gotta say, this almost gave me Joly vibes. Fun stuff. Drink now through 2032.
Jan 3rd, 2026
Sweet aromas; Lillet, acacia honey, jasmine, lilac, kettle corn. Smells like summer night. Textural with nice mineral interplay, just a bit more structure would go a long way. Gets increasingly floral and pretty over several days.
Sweet aromas; Lillet, acacia honey, jasmine, lilac, kettle corn. Smells like summer night. Textural with nice mineral interplay, just a bit more structure would go a long way. Gets increasingly floral and pretty over several days.
Jan 20th, 2023
This wine is the 2021 Clau de Nell Chenin Blanc Anjou AOC, made from hand-harvested, low-yielding and biodynamically-farmed Chenin Blanc (yielding only 40 hL/ha) that was gently pressed and underwent a wild yeast fermentation in used Burgundian oak barrels. 🪵
After fermentation, this wine spent 6 months in stainless steel, before it rested for 12 months in used Burgundian oak, deep in the estate’s limestone cellars carved out of the famous tuffeau subsoils of Anjou.
The result is a 👁️ medium gold wine with 👃🏻 pronounced and concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe yellow apple, pear, quince, orange pith, chamomile, acacia, fennel, wet slate, cream, walnut, and honey. The 👄 palate is rich and mouth-coating, balanced by brightness and lift thanks to its high acidity and medium alcohol (13% ABV). Its flavor notes linger on and on. 👌🏻👌🏻
This wine is the 2021 Clau de Nell Chenin Blanc Anjou AOC, made from hand-harvested, low-yielding and biodynamically-farmed Chenin Blanc (yielding only 40 hL/ha) that was gently pressed and underwent a wild yeast fermentation in used Burgundian oak barrels. 🪵
After fermentation, this wine spent 6 months in stainless steel, before it rested for 12 months in used Burgundian oak, deep in the estate’s limestone cellars carved out of the famous tuffeau subsoils of Anjou.
The result is a 👁️ medium gold wine with 👃🏻 pronounced and concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe yellow apple, pear, quince, orange pith, chamomile, acacia, fennel, wet slate, cream, walnut, and honey. The 👄 palate is rich and mouth-coating, balanced by brightness and lift thanks to its high acidity and medium alcohol (13% ABV). Its flavor notes linger on and on. 👌🏻👌🏻
Very nice Chenin. Lemon, minerality, excellent full body and mouthfeel. Surprisingly good pairing with a great meal at Indian Accent, good rec by the somm.
Very nice Chenin. Lemon, minerality, excellent full body and mouthfeel. Surprisingly good pairing with a great meal at Indian Accent, good rec by the somm.
Jan 14th, 2023
Late post: Pic from 11/2019 - Pairing this 2016 Clau De Nell Chenin Blanc with the best small plates/tapas restaurant on the island! Cheers🍷
Late post: Pic from 11/2019 - Pairing this 2016 Clau De Nell Chenin Blanc with the best small plates/tapas restaurant on the island! Cheers🍷
Jun 17th, 2021Highlight from Clau du Nell trade tasting, characterful Chenin that doesn’t give it all say at once. A little reserved in the most alluring way.
Highlight from Clau du Nell trade tasting, characterful Chenin that doesn’t give it all say at once. A little reserved in the most alluring way.
Nov 5th, 2018