Château de Bonnezeaux
A venerable 19th-century estate once associated with Anjou’s renowned sweet wines, Château de Bonnezeaux has transformed its abandoned, chemical-free vineyards into the source of some of the Loire’s most in-demand dry Chenin Blancs.
Falling into ruin in the 1980s, Château de Bonnezeaux was taken over by Guyonne Saclier de la Bâtie – a student of dry Chenin luminaries Mark Angeli and Stéphane Bernaudeau. Since 2012, Guyonne has revived its 3ha of vines at the heart of the appellation with biodynamic farming and a programme of careful replanting and expansion.
After Guyonne’s pristine fruit is harvested by hand and crushed in an old mechanical press, winemaker Pierre Boisseau adopts a low-intervention approach to craft Chenin Blancs with vivid perfumes and deep mineral complexity. Bonnezeaux’s wines are bottled without fining, filtration, or additional sulphites.
‘La Montagne’ is a blend of fruit from 40- and 70-year-old vines in Bonnezaux and Coteaux du Layon, while ‘Les Coqueries’ is sourced from a schist and quartz site that is picked very late. ‘Minée-Basse’ – a new plot surrounded by woodland at the bottom of a gravel slope – sees its first vintage in 2020. Lastly, ‘Inter-Val’ is a multi-vintage blend of two neighbouring lieux-dits – ‘Vieilles Vignes’ and ‘Prieur des Noues’ – and aged in oak for 24 months.
Gaining a cult following almost overnight among sommeliers and natural wine lovers when the first bottle was released from its cellar in over 30 years, Château de Bonnezeaux has become one of the Loire’s must-have allocations. We’re delighted to offer the latest releases.
‘La Montagne’ 2021 (£55) Sold out
Citrus, honey, chamomile. Lacy and long. Drink to 2032+
‘Les Coqueries’ 2021 (£64)
Sold out
Broad and spicy orchard fruit. Racy. Drink to 2036+
‘Minée-Basse’ 2020 (£78)
Sold out
Exotic fruit, lanolin, and smoky lift. Tense and vibrant. Drink to 2040+
‘Inter-Val’ NV (£89)
Sold out
Peach and apricot, wild herbs, and crystalline minerals. Drink to 2040+
Please note that this offer has expired, however you can check current stocks via the search bar or shop@shrinetothevine.co.uk