2021 Domaine de la Noblaie Chinon Blanc, Loire Valley, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

While Chinon is famed for its red Cabernet Franc, white Chinon—made exclusively from Chenin Blanc—is a hidden gem, accounting for just a small percentage of the appellation’s production. Domaine de la Noblaie is among the few producers to champion this style, and their 2021 Chinon Blanc is a compelling argument for its elegance and ageability.

The fruit comes from organically farmed, high-elevation parcels in the heart of the Chinon AOC, where deep, chalky tuffeau soils imbue the wine with clarity and minerality. The 2021 growing season was cooler than average, resulting in a wine of lifted aromatics, lower alcohol, and sharpened acidity—a vintage that plays beautifully to the strengths of Chenin Blanc.

Grapes are hand-harvested and gently pressed before undergoing spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged on fine lees in a combination of stainless steel and older barrels to preserve freshness while adding subtle texture. No fining or aggressive filtration is used, allowing the terroir to shine through.

The result is a wine with tension and detail—notes of citrus peel, green apple, flint, and acacia unfold across a mouthwatering, slightly creamy palate. It drinks beautifully now but will reward cellaring for 5–10 years, evolving into honeyed, nutty complexity.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine de la Noblaie is a historic family-run estate located in Ligré, just south of the town of Chinon. Now in the hands of Jérôme Billard, who returned to the domaine after training at Château Pétrus and Dominus Estate in California, the winery has become a benchmark for quality and sustainability in the region.

Farming is certified organic, with great care taken to preserve biodiversity and soil health. All fruit is hand-harvested, and vinification is low-intervention, aimed at preserving purity and precision.

While best known for their elegant and expressive Cabernet Franc, Noblaie’s Chinon Blanc is a standout—made in tiny quantities from prized hillside sites, it is a rare and compelling expression of Chenin Blanc from a terroir better known for reds. Through careful farming and thoughtful winemaking, Jérôme Billard brings out both the varietal character and the limestone energy that make this wine so quietly captivating.