Pinon, François & Julien 2020 Vouvray Brut
The Chenin's of Pinon are some of the best in Vouvray due to their impeccable farming, diversity of clay, limestone, and silex soils, and deliberate, albeit low-intervention, cellar work. The Vouvray Brut comes from 45 year-old vines that are hand-harvested during the first pass of the season. It is made in the traditional (Champagne) method with three and one-half years resting on the lees before disgorgement with a 7 g/l dosage in this vintage. The 2020 Brut is a delightful wine, perhaps even better than the lovely 2019, showing elegant aromas of quince, pear, brioche, citrus and mint, bright and fresh, but with good ripeness and density in this excellent vintage. The palate shows an elegant mousse with superb density and weight, with flavors of white fruits, quince, peach and honey with firm chalky acidity, and finishing with white fruit, almond and mineral notes, quite clean and refreshing. Lovely wine, and capable of long aging. (Please serve in a white wine glass, not a flute, in order to enjoy the complex aromas...)