2017 Le Batossay Chenin Blanc Pied!

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 85 points

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  6/4/2020 - forceberry wrote: 85 Points

  A naturalist Chenin Blanc from Anjou aged in barriques for 1-2 years, depending on the vintage. Vinified without any sulfites. Labeled Vin de France. 11% alcohol.
  
  Medium-deep golden yellow color with a bronze core. Wild and quite volatile nose with lifted aromas of ether, some bruised apple, a little bit of honey, light notes of Play-Doh and an oxidative hint of chopped almonds. The wine is ripe, moderately full-bodied and somewhat wild on the palate with ripe and sunny yet quite dry flavors of apple sauce, juicy citrus fruits, some sweet Bourbon oak, a little bit of pineapple, sweet hints of caramel and beeswax and a volatile touch of ether. The wine is moderately high in acidity, which isn't much for a Chenin, but still keeps the rather ripe and full-bodied wine pretty nicely in balance. The finish is rich and somewhat wild with flavors of bruised apple, crunchy quince, some sweet oak spice, a little bit of honeyed richness, light nuances of woody bitterness and a toasty hint of something I'd best describe as Champagne-like brioche autolysis.
  
  A rich, distinctive and complex Chenin Blanc, that is quite wild - and not completely for the good. The wine is captivating in its own way, but I'm not entirely sold on the style here. The VA feels a bit too elevated at times, the oak influence feels a bit too high with the slightly Bourbon-y undertones and while the acidity is adequately high to keep the wine in balance, it still is lacking freshness and could use a bit more cut from high acidity. An interesting effort, but honestly - a bit too all over the place.

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