Domaine Leduc-Frouin Anjou Vendanges du 23 Septembre

Revisited my only other and last bottle of this vintage. The wine's colour in this bottle is more mid-golden than the wine I had in August and there is a slightly more noticeable honeyed tone in the aroma. The palate texture is again a nice feature as is the still firm acidity running right through the spine. Whilst the cork was tight and quite sound, I'm wondering if there might be a slight degree of bottle variation this second time …

This is a remarkably interesting wine, the estate owned by Antoine and Nathalie Leduc. Antoine trained with Burgundians JP Charlot and Jacques Carillon, where he learned the complexities achievable through barrel fermentation and aging. Applying a similar technique in the Loire to this 100% Chenin Blanc, the resulting wine morphs into something quite different to steel fermented Chenin and the difference is texture. Knowledgeable friends have seen this wine (poured blind) as an unusual Chardonnay from somewhere around the globe …