Olivier Lejeune
Clos Des Plantes Poïèsis Chenin Blanc
Loire Valley, France
Outstanding!
I had this last week by chance to check in on it as a bottle crossed my path doing some inventory work. Popped and poured, this was classic chenin. Med+ yellow/gold in color. Lanonlin, chamomile, sweet meyer lemons and limes, pear, and beeswax notes rise from the glass with a medium+ intensity and a core of minerality. Med/med+ body and acidity, medium+ flavor density, and a very long, complex finish. The minerality core is buried a little deeper on the palate because of the generosity of 2020 but fear not it is clearly there providing good energy along with the acidity. This was one of the more exciting and very fun Chenin I have had in some time. This can easily go another 7-10 years in the cellar.
Outstanding!
I had this last week by chance to check in on it as a bottle crossed my path doing some inventory work. Popped and poured, this was classic chenin. Med+ yellow/gold in color. Lanonlin, chamomile, sweet meyer lemons and limes, pear, and beeswax notes rise from the glass with a medium+ intensity and a core of minerality. Med/med+ body and acidity, medium+ flavor density, and a very long, complex finish. The minerality core is buried a little deeper on the palate because of the generosity of 2020 but fear not it is clearly there providing good energy along with the acidity. This was one of the more exciting and very fun Chenin I have had in some time. This can easily go another 7-10 years in the cellar.
Bought a few of these on @Max Kogod’s recommendation and the first bottle did not disappoint. Typical and energetic. Waxy, spiced, wooly, rich but with bristling acidity. Quite vibrant and effusive, decanting helped to open this up.
Bought a few of these on @Max Kogod’s recommendation and the first bottle did not disappoint. Typical and energetic. Waxy, spiced, wooly, rich but with bristling acidity. Quite vibrant and effusive, decanting helped to open this up.
May 11th, 2019100% Chenin Blanc. The nose is pure and fresh Chenin: the lanolin calling card is there, with loads of fresh green apple and pear, meyer lemon and its citrus florals, and a clear transfusion of minerality. The palate was med/med+ in body with med+ down the line for acidity, flavor density, and length. The minerality really comes through on the mid-palate and finish as this and the acidity are the core of this wine’s energy that light up the fruit and florals on gorgeous display.
A remarkable effort for the first vintage of this new vigneron. Drink now or hold 5-8 years. It could go more so I am being conservative since there is no track record. #CHENINCHENINCHENIN
This was tasted the other day in a Loire Chenin lineup of some of the greats from Chidaine, Huet, Belliviere and Baumard.
About the Wine & Winemaker
In the cellar, Olivier's goal is to reduce the number of filters between the fruit and the wine. Once the Chenin is pressed on an old vertical press, fermentations start spontaneously on wild yeasts and in fiberglass tanks. Once the fermentation is ready, the must is transferred to neutral barrels by gravity and left untouched for 12 months until racking and bottling.
After visiting several vineyards, Olivier was able to take up parcels ideally located on the hill of Montbenault, on the edge of the plot of Richard Leroy. It is also Richard who testifies to the colossal work that Olivier Lejeune undertook to give back life to vineyards that were almost fallow. 1 year of pick, manual weeding, pulling ... but the result is there.
“Poiesis” comes from the same Greek root as the word “poesy”. Poesy is the the art or composition of poetry while Poiesis is the activity through which a person brings something into being that did not exist before. These concepts are at the heart of Clos des Plantes.
100% Chenin Blanc. The nose is pure and fresh Chenin: the lanolin calling card is there, with loads of fresh green apple and pear, meyer lemon and its citrus florals, and a clear transfusion of minerality. The palate was med/med+ in body with med+ down the line for acidity, flavor density, and length. The minerality really comes through on the mid-palate and finish as this and the acidity are the core of this wine’s energy that light up the fruit and florals on gorgeous display.
A remarkable effort for the first vintage of this new vigneron. Drink now or hold 5-8 years. It could go more so I am being conservative since there is no track record. #CHENINCHENINCHENIN
This was tasted the other day in a Loire Chenin lineup of some of the greats from Chidaine, Huet, Belliviere and Baumard.
About the Wine & Winemaker
In the cellar, Olivier's goal is to reduce the number of filters between the fruit and the wine. Once the Chenin is pressed on an old vertical press, fermentations start spontaneously on wild yeasts and in fiberglass tanks. Once the fermentation is ready, the must is transferred to neutral barrels by gravity and left untouched for 12 months until racking and bottling.
After visiting several vineyards, Olivier was able to take up parcels ideally located on the hill of Montbenault, on the edge of the plot of Richard Leroy. It is also Richard who testifies to the colossal work that Olivier Lejeune undertook to give back life to vineyards that were almost fallow. 1 year of pick, manual weeding, pulling ... but the result is there.
“Poiesis” comes from the same Greek root as the word “poesy”. Poesy is the the art or composition of poetry while Poiesis is the activity through which a person brings something into being that did not exist before. These concepts are at the heart of Clos des Plantes.
Heat damage from shipper. Also, 2017 cork in a 2018 bottle. Strange all around. 🧐
Heat damage from shipper. Also, 2017 cork in a 2018 bottle. Strange all around. 🧐
Jun 26th, 2020
Waxy, nice acidity, lacking a little bit of structure and precision, alcohol a little out of balance. Nice sweet note on the nose. Overall someone to watch.
Waxy, nice acidity, lacking a little bit of structure and precision, alcohol a little out of balance. Nice sweet note on the nose. Overall someone to watch.
Mar 31st, 2020
Orchard fruit, lemon zest, mineral, waxy texture, slightly off dry. Really nice 👌
Orchard fruit, lemon zest, mineral, waxy texture, slightly off dry. Really nice 👌
Nov 25th, 2019
Gorgeous wine indeed. Nice balance of stone fruits, floral notes with minerality!
Gorgeous wine indeed. Nice balance of stone fruits, floral notes with minerality!
Aug 3rd, 2019