Charles Joguet - Chinon Les Charmes blanc 2021

For Anne-Charlotte Genet, the quest for perfectly balanced tannins without any harshness is the key to wines that are enjoyable both young and aged. The result is alluring wines that embody charm, complexity, sensuality, and great refinement. With a rare insight into the vineyard and the winemaking process, this estate represents the very best of the Chinon region.

Aged one-third in new barrels and two-thirds in used barrels, the 2021 Les Charmes Blanc exudes aromas of smoke, white fruit, flint, and orchard fruit, followed by a medium-bodied, silky, and well-balanced palate, complemented by bright acidity and a long citrus finish.

Founded in 1957 by Charles Joguet in Sazilly, on the left bank of the Vienne River, this estate has returned to the top of the Chinon appellation—a testament to the team in charge of winemaking and vineyard management, selected by owner Jacques Genet. They maintain a high standard of excellence, given the estate’s size. Above all, the winemakers have revived a vibrant spirit of freshness in their great Cabernet wines, which are unique in that they are grown on northeast-facing slopes. Few estates in the Loire have such essential flagship wines: Clos de la Dioterie (2 hectares of 80-year-old vines on clay-limestone soils, facing northeast, in Sazilly); Clos du Chêne Vert (2 hectares in the town of Chinon, facing southwest, on a steep slope with clay-limestone and flint-clay soils); Les Varennes du Grand Clos (4.5 hectares in Sazilly), aged eighteen months in barrels followed by ten months in bottles before release. As for the entry-level wines, they succeed in making Cabernet Franc approachable and refined, without losing the terroir’s character. This is a great quality! These modern Cabernet Francs, both refined and deep, pull off the remarkable feat of remaining approachable, as seen in the 2019, 2020, and now 2021 vintages—among the most ambitious in the Loire!

A superb white Chinon with a subtle nose of spiced apples, dried pears, white flowers, and wet stones. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Dense, concentrated, and full-bodied. Well-balanced and harmonious, with a mineral backbone at its core. Nicely structured and charming, with a long finish. Made from organically grown grapes. Ready to drink now or for aging.