Savennières "Maison Jaune" 2022

Electric and lightning-precise Chenin Blanc from Jean-Claude Taddei, a garagiste producer in one of the Loire's most famous sites. Excellent now and also has potential to age beautifully over the next half-decade.

More about the wine: 

"Maison Jaune" is a 1 hectare single-parcel of Chenin Blanc in Savennières at the top of a hill descending toward the Loire. Jean-Claude was using biodynamic techniques at the outset but phased them out two years ago for less-intervention, Fukuoka-esque farming. There is no turning of the soil, no treatments in the vines, only mowing the grass a couple times each summer. Grapes are hand-harvested by Jean-Claude, pressed slowly in a pneumatic press. Aging takes place in French oak barrels for approximately one year before bottling.

About the domaine: Jean-Claude Taddei, a professor at the local business school in nearby Angers, runs Maison Jaune — what has to be the smallest winery in Savennières. It’s a pure garagiste operation; Jean-Claude farms mostly by himself and ages the few barrels of wine he makes each year in the larder of his 17th century manor house. Far from a gimmick, the wines are stunning, some of the best new Chenin we’ve tasted in a long time.