Thibaud Boudignon Clos de la Hutte Savannières 2023

Thibaud Boudignon is one of the leading names in Savennières, a small Loire appellation known for dry, long lived Chenin Blanc. Clos de la Hutte is a single walled parcel, farmed organically with the discipline he brought from years in Burgundy. Savennières sits on schist, sandstone and volcanic rock on south facing slopes above the Loire, poor free draining soils that keep yields low and concentrate the fruit. Chenin here ripens slowly and keeps its trademark high acidity. This bottling is fermented and raised in stainless steel rather than oak, an inert vessel that preserves the fruit purity and lets the site speak, with lees contact building texture while the wine stays taut and mineral. Chenin's natural acidity gives it structure and the capacity to age. Expect a pale gold colour, a nose of quince, white peach, white flowers and a waxy, honeyed note that is typical of the grape, and a palate that is dry, tightly wound and stony with a saline, persistent finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees, ideally decanted for a young vintage.