2024 Thomas Batardiere Chenin Blanc 'Montbenault', Loire, France Domaine des Ardoisieres Aging on the lees

Aging on the lees

Vinification: De-stemmed

Fermented and aged in barrel (30% new) for 22 months

ambient yeast fermentation and aging for 10 months in stainless steel (70%) and used barrels (30%)

Filliatreau acquired some abandoned Cab Franc vines here back in the 1990s and converted farming biodynamics (certified since 2018)

2024 Thomas Batardiere Chenin Blanc 'Montbenault', Loire, France Domaine des Ardoisieres Aging on the leesCertified Biodynamic. 100% Chenin Blanc from Montbenault a parcel Thomas planted in 2014, just 50 meters from Les Cocus, but the soils here tell a different story. Deeper, and laced with rhyolite a volcanic rock thats a signature of this corner of Anjou. Fermentation starts naturally in stainless steel, before the wine is moved to used 500L tonneaux (23 years old) for a year of levage. Both primary and malolactic fermentations occur without