France

We receive only a tiny quantity of these jewel-like wines, but we’re always enchanted by their robust-but-elegant character. Batardière’s wines are somehow powerful, pretty, and crystal clear all at once, an unadorned expression of Anjou that could only come from this clear-headed and intuitive winemaker.

Certified Biodynamic. 100% Chenin Blanc. This wine is made of three parcels, situated in Rablay, with vines 15-90 years old. From plateaus of red sand and quartz gravel on schist. The juice is blended in steel tanks before the fermentation starts. The alcoholic and malolatic fermentations start naturally, without inoculation and without temperature control (his cave is underground and it’s 14 degrees C). The wine rests on its lees from pressing until summer without sulfur. Raised mainly in steel, although Thomas uses L’Esprit Libre to break in his 500L tonneaux that he then uses for ‘Clos de Cocus’ when needed. No SO2 added in 2023.