Le Fief Noir 'Contact' Chenin Blanc Anjou AOC 2021

Le Fief Noir is a project of two friends: Alexis Soulas and Dominique Sirot worked together making wine in Corsica before founding their domaine in the Anjou area of the Loire Valley. There, they make use of the black schist particular to the Anjou Noir subregion (hence the “noir” in “Le Fief Noir”); the thin-layered rock invites grape vines to send roots deep. Chenin blanc is the pride of the region and of this domaine, though Alexis and Dominique grow a couple of red varieties as well. For this treatment, they left their hand-harvested chenin to macerate on the skins for a month. Fermentation took place in stainless steel before six months of élevage in amphorae. Aromas of orange peel and spice precede orchard fruit and citrus on the palate. The winemakers suggest pairing this more mouth-filling version of chenin with richer dishes such as duck à l’orange or vegetable curry. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine.