2019 Nicolas Réau 'Attention Chenin Méchant'

Region: Anjou < Loire Valley < France Grapes: Chenin Blanc Vineyard/cellar stats: Organic farming; clay and limestone soils; fermentation starts in stainless steel and finished in used oak barrel and aged for 6 months, light filtration (vegan), no fining; no added So2; zero-zero; 11.5% ABV Winemaker: Nicolas Réau The Loire Valley is the epicenter of France's natural wine movement, and Nicolas Réau is a core member of this forward-thinking crew.  Interning at his grandfather's farm growing up, he learned the art of agriculture from an early age, acquiring along the way a curiosity about wine, perhaps from his grandpa's tendency to sneak small glasses of red wine to his grandson when grandma wasn't looking.  Despite this early exposure to wine, Nicolas didn't immediately pursue winemaking -- first, he was a pianist.  In 1998 he pivoted, attending oenology school and taking over the family's 28 ha. estate, which he quickly converted to organic farming with biodynamic techniques.   C