Charles Joguet Les Charmes Blanc 2021

Charles Joguet is a name tied to Chinon, on the banks of the Vienne near the Loire, best known for Cabernet Franc but here working with white Chenin Blanc. The estate is farmed organically. Chinon's soils range from riverside sand and gravel to limestone-clay on the slopes, and it is the limestone that gives Chenin its bright acidity and mineral cut, while the moderating river and the Loire's cool climate slow ripening and keep the fruit fresh. The wine is made entirely in stainless steel and aged for around six months in tank, with no oak at any stage. That reductive, temperature-controlled handling protects the primary fruit and preserves the grape's naturally high acidity, giving a clean, taut style rather than the honeyed, oak-aged expression Chenin can also take. The wine is pale with green glints. The nose is aromatic and fresh, with green apple and pear leading to white peach and a light tropical note, lifted by white flowers. The palate is dry and vivid, the acidity firm and the finish clean and stony with a faint honeyed edge that Chenin brings even when dry. Serve well chilled at 9 to 11 degrees.