Patrick Baudouin - Savennières 2014

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Patrick Baudouin worked in a variety of jobs before setting up shop as a bookseller in Paris. At the age of 40, he decided to return to the family estate, which was barely scraping by on just one and a half hectares. His reading proved invaluable in rediscovering the essence of the great sweet wines of the Layon, before beet sugar and near-universal chaptalization smoothed out these golden wines. As a purist, he chose the path of excellence, without compromise. When he started in 1990, he produced only sweet wines. Encouraged by François Raveneau, a great winemaker from Chablis, he began producing dry white wine in 2001. With 14 hectares of vineyards (including 10 hectares of Chenin, with one hectare in Quarts de Chaume and 90 ares in Savennières), situated on the most spectacular terroirs of the Anjou Noir (schist, sandstone, and volcanic rock) and cultivated organically, he crafts magnificent whites alongside his loyal assistant Christophe Durand (who joined in 2012). A model estate, a must-visit, dedicated to uncovering the true identity of Chenin.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Patrick Baudouin, an energetic man in his sixties, fought to establish the production of natural sweet wines in Layon at the end of the 20th century. This former Parisian bookseller, who returned to the Anjou region of his ancestors in the early 1990s, has weathered many ups and downs. The arrival of a majority financial partner (Union Harmonie Mutuelles) enabled the estate to secure additional resources and achieve high-quality standards. The dedicated work is paying off, and the wines have never been more accomplished, featuring fine reds but especially Anjou whites that showcase the diversity of the terroirs, and, among the sweet wines, an admirable Quarts-de-Chaume. More than ever, Patrick Baudoin plays an active role in promoting Anjou Chenin.