Clau De Nell - Chenin Blanc 2017

Clau de Nell is a property that was revived and refined by the famous Anne-Claude Leflaive, of Burgundy renown, late in her life. This is just the second commercial vintage of their Chenin Blanc, from several plots of biodynamically farmed vines in Anjou. The Chenin Blanc is from a parcel of young vine planted on a soil of slate and Tuffeau.  It is a very elegant dry expression of Chenin with white peach and lemon peaking out over crushed stones and spring water minerality.  The practiced hand of the Leflaive estate is clearly present in the high quality of this wine.

This biodynamic estate was started in 2008 by Anne-Claude Leflaive and continued by her husband, Christian Jacques. But its history is the soil they recognized as perfect for excellent Chenin Blanc. This wine captures intense fruit and lemon and almond flavors, with a touch of oxidation that opens everything up. Drink this still-young wine from 2022

Alcohol: 13%

Domaine Clau de Nell is located in the Loire Valley wine region of Anjou, southeast of Angers and northwest of Saumur, in the village of Ambillou-Château. The vines range in age from 30 to 90 years. The vineyard, situated on a south-facing knoll, consists of eight contiguous hectares (19.8 acres), of which five hectares (12.4 acres) are planted to Cabernet Franc, two hectares (4.9 acres) to Grolleau and one hectare (2.5 acres) to Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil is sandstone grit and red flint over tuffeau (the soft limestone of the region). The vineyard is on a slope at an altitude of just 90 meters (295 feet), 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean. From the top of the knoll, surrounded by open countryside, the Loire River can be glimpsed in the distance.

These vineyards have been biodynamically cultivated since 2000. Significant financial difficulties and a call for aid from the previous proprietors brought the property to Anne-Claude Leflaive’s attention. In 2006, Anne-Claude and her husband, Christian Jacques, had created a company to help new biodynamic wine growers take advantage of their established commercial network. In order to assist the struggling venture, in 2008 they purchased the domaine, which had not produced any wine for three years due to lack of means. It was a moment of serendipity for the abandoned vineyards and the Leflaive-Jacques family, culminating with the arrival of Sylvain Potin, well-versed in biodynamic viticulture, to be their estate manager. Christian Jacques concludes that, “We have not chosen Clau de Nell, so much as Clau de Nell has chosen us!”