Pierre Menard La Varenne de Chanze 2019

Pierre Menard La Varenne de Chanze 2019

Pierre Menard
$43.00

Grape: Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2019
Type: White

This dry white wine is a pure varietal expression of chenin blanc produced by rising star Pierre Menard in Anjou. Sourced from a minuscule plot of old vines farmed biodynamically, the grapes are harvested manually in separate picks. Spontaneous fermentation relies entirely on native vineyard wild yeasts, completely avoiding modern chemical enhancements or synthetic cellar styling. The wine undergoes a natural maturation process, aging in neutral French oak barrels to achieve a mellow texture.

It displays a gold color, releasing a complex bouquet of ripe melon, quince, pear, and fragrant honeysuckle. A medium-bodied frame pairs stone fruit flavors with a balanced, subtle hint of nutmeg and lemon citrus. A lively vein of natural acidity cuts through the waxy mouthfeel, keeping the fluid profile fresh. A distinct baseline of stony gravel provides a fine structural frame that supports the fruit nicely. It concludes with a long, dry, and persistent finish.

Pierre Menard grew up in a winemaking family in Anjou. He went on to study winemaking in Angers and to work stints in Pauillac at Chateau Latour, in the Duoro, Canada, New Zealand and in Tokaj, Hungary.

When he returned home to Anjou, he began farming a few rows of his family’s old vine Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc. Traditionally his parents sold the grapes from all 13 hectares of their vines to a cooperative, but they agreed to let him keep some for his own project. In 2013, while still in his twenties, he bottled a miniscule number of bottles in a garage turned wine cellar. This inaugural vintage was received with great critical acclaim and a rising star of Anjou was born. Since then, Pierre has expanded his holdings to more than 1.5 hectares, all farmed biodynamically. He makes several bottlings of Chenin Blanc from these old vines, all dry.

Hand harvesting, gentle pneumatic pressing, fermentation, and aging in a combination of used barrels, sandstone amphora, and tank.