Clau de Nell Chenin Blanc, Val de Loire IGP — 2018 – The Wine Advocate – 94 Points
93+ points
The 2018 Chenin Blanc, from sandstone-silex and clay-limestone soils, displays an intense straw-yellow color and opens with an intense and complex, lemony chalky aroma with yeasty notes and a kiss of oak. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, textural, very elegant and finely tensioned Burgundian Chenin with a finely creamy sur lie texture, very fine tannins and refreshing lemon aromas. The wine is less pure and dramatic but also less alcoholic than the 2018 Chenins from Melaric in Puy Notre Dame, but it is textural, more haptic, gentle and very well elaborated. This is a great, lush and fruity but highly finessed Chenin, especially for this difficult year. Lovely lingering salinity and mineral grip.
Clau de Nell Chenin Blanc, Val de Loire IGP — 2018 – The Wine Advocate – 94 Points