In the glass
Aroma: quince, honeysuckle, wet stone, yellow apple
Palate: pear, saline mineral, beeswax, lemon zest
Dry Chenin Blanc from limestone parcels at Savigny-en-Veron. Quince and honeysuckle on the nose, with the typical Loire Chenin balance of orchard fruit, beeswax and saline mineral length.
What it pairs with
-
Quenelles de brochet with sauce Nantua
Loire pike dumplings and Chenin Blanc are a regional cornerstone. -
Crottin de Chavignol
Aged goat cheese and dry Chenin's wax-and-mineral register are textbook. -
Roast chicken with tarragon
Herbal poultry meets the wine's honeysuckle lift.
History
Chinon's small white production comes from old Chenin Blanc parcels like Champ Chenin. Raffault has bottled this cuvee since the early 1960s.
- 1960 — Champ Chenin established as a white-cuvee bottling
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Olga Raffault
- Grapes
- Chenin Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- Chinon AOC
- Oak
- 8 to 10 months in old oak demi-muids, no new oak
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 18 to 28 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3 to 12 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1960
Scores
- Vinous 90 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Champ Chenin
What does Champ Chenin taste like?
Quince, honeysuckle, wet stone and yellow apple on the nose; pear, saline mineral, beeswax and lemon zest on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long finish.
When should I drink Champ Chenin?
Drink between 3 and 12 years from vintage. Serve at 10 to 12C; the wine opens with 30 minutes of air.
What food pairs with Champ Chenin?
Quenelles de brochet with sauce Nantua, Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese, and roast chicken with tarragon are all strong matches.
What grapes are in Champ Chenin?
100 percent Chenin Blanc, the rare white grape grown in the Chinon AOC, from limestone parcels at Savigny-en-Veron.