In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: lemon zest, white peach, wet schist, white flower

Palate: citrus, stone fruit, saline mineral, honey

Single-vineyard Anjou Blanc from a tiny 0.8-hectare east-facing schist parcel above the Layon. Vines 50 to 70 years old produce highly mineral, age-worthy dry Chenin.

What it pairs with

  • Pike-perch with beurre blanc
    Loire freshwater fish in butter sauce meets the wine's saline mineral and stone-fruit depth.
  • Sole bonne femme
    Mushroom-shallot cream sauce meets the wine's chalky drive and honey lift.
  • Roast chicken with mushrooms
    White-meat poultry and earthy mushroom; the wine's body and acid handle roasting jus.
  • Aged Sainte-Maure de Touraine
    Ashed Loire goat cheese with schist Chenin; the wine's saline edge echoes the rind.

History

Patrick Baudouin took over his great-grandparents' estate in 1990 after twelve years in the workforce. Le Cornillard is bottled from a tiny 0.8-hectare schist parcel of 50 to 70-year-old vines.

  1. 1990 — Patrick Baudouin takes over the family estate
  2. 1995 — Single-vineyard Le Cornillard bottling established

Facts

Producer
Domaine Patrick Baudouin
Grapes
Chenin Blanc (100%)
Classification
Anjou AOC
Oak
Fermented in older oak demi-muids; aged around 12 months on fine lees
ABV
13.5%
Price
EUR 35 to 55 at retail
Drinking window
3-15 from vintage
First vintage
1995
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Scores

  • Vinous 92 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)

Frequently asked about Anjou Blanc Le Cornillard

What does Baudouin Le Cornillard taste like?

Lemon zest, white peach, wet schist and white flower on the nose; citrus, stone fruit, saline mineral and honey on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, layered finish.

When should I drink Le Cornillard?

Drink between 3 and 15 years from vintage. The Anjou Noir schist and 50 to 70-year-old vines give the wine remarkable ageing capacity for a dry Chenin.

Where is Le Cornillard grown?

A tiny 0.8-hectare east-facing schist parcel above the Layon. Vines are 50 to 70 years old; volumes are always limited.

Is Baudouin Le Cornillard vegan?

Yes. The estate is organic-certified and the wines are produced with ambient yeasts and minimal sulfur.

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