Guiberteau Breze Blanc 2020 750ml

100% Chenin Blanc. The modern renaissance of Chenin de Breze (as it was once known) owes a great deal to the Foucault brothers’ Breze bottling and, more recently, to a new generation of growers like Guiberteau. This striking wine comes from two small parcels of mature vines (planted in 1933 and 1952) within the fabled Breze climat, a terroir that once produced wines as revered as those of the greatest vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux. One-quarter of the fruit is also drawn from the historic Clos de Carmes terroir.

Guiberteau now uses larger-format barrels from different coopers. He prefers Atelier Centre France’s thick-staved demi-muids for this wine (he’s also engaged Clos Rougeard’s local cooper to supply some barrels). Furthermore, the Breze now spends two winters in a barrel and six months in tank, recognising its potency and coiled energy.

Year in and year out, this reminds us of the force of this incredible terroir, which can simultaneously deliver the texture and savoury reduction of great white Burgundy and the raciness of great German Riesling. If the Clos de Guichaux calls to mind excellent Chablis, the Breze style leans towards the textural richness of fine Meursault (at a fraction of the price).