Clos de la Cure AOC 2023

A dry Chenin Blanc at 13.0% Vol. that favours tension over richness. Pale straw yellow with greenish highlights, crisp definition, a long mineral finish. A white wine for the table, not for the grand gesture.

The vines grow on the plateaus of Chinon, on clay-limestone and sandstone over a bed of porous chalk. The continental climate with Atlantic influence delays ripening, allowing the grapes to build aroma without losing acidity. Yields around 35 hl/ha are standard at the estate.

Pure Chenin Blanc, hand-harvested. The variety reflects soil differences precisely, which is why Jean de Bonnaventure, agricultural engineer and oenologist who has run the estate since 2017 as its ninth generation, works with a light touch: minimal intervention, maximum expression of terroir.

The opening is defined by yellow pear and green apple, followed by quince and elderflower, with a hint of beeswax adding depth. The acidity carries the wine in a dry, linear line, and the finish stays spicy and mineral.

Loire goat cheese, grilled pike-perch or trout, paired with risotto with fresh herbs.

The Gothic château dates back to the 15th century and today serves as the cellar and family residence. In 1988, Etienne de Bonnaventure took over just 1.2 hectares and expanded the estate to 19 hectares; in 1997, he had it certified organic, the first estate in the appellation to do so. According to family tradition, the vineyards have never been treated with chemicals for centuries. The family is now working toward biodynamic certification.