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Product Name
Vintage
Price
Varietal
Country
Region
Appellation
Size
Additional Discount
Original Item
2008
$82.94
Chenin Blanc
France
Loire Valley
Anjou-Saumur
750ml
N/A
Better Price
2017
$63.44
Chenin Blanc
France
Loire Valley
Anjou-Saumur
750ml
Similar Price
2020
$83.78
Chenin Blanc
France
Loire Valley
Anjou-Saumur
750ml
Similar Price, Better Score
2018
$83.95
Chenin Blanc
France
Loire Valley
Anjou-Saumur
750ml
Better Price, Better Score
2021
$59.95
Chenin Blanc
France
Loire Valley
Anjou-Saumur
750ml
More wines available from Nicolas Joly
More Details
Winery
Nicolas Joly
Vintage: 2008
2008 saw very high yields across wineries in much of the southern hemisphere, as a result of highly favorable climatic conditions. Although in many areas, these high yields brought with them something of a drop in overall quality, this could not be said for South Australia's wines, which were reportedly excellent. Indeed, the 2008 Shiraz harvest in South Australia is said to be one of the most successful in recent decades, and western Australia's Chardonnays are set to be ones to watch out for. New Zealand's Pinot Noir harvest was also very good, with wineries in Martinborough reportedly very excited about this particular grape and the characteristics it revealed this year.
Pinot Noir also grew very well in the United States, and was probably the most successful grape varietal to come out of California in 2008, with Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley delivering fantastic results from this grape. Elsewhere in United States, Washington State and Oregon had highly successful harvests in 2008 despite some early worries about frost.
However, it was France who had the best of the weather and growing conditions in 2008, and this year was one of the great vintages for Champagne, the Médoc in Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes leading the way. Italy, too, shared many of these ideal conditions, with the wineries in Tuscany claiming that their Chianti Classicos of 2008 will be ones to collect, and Piedmont's Barberesco and Barolo wines will be recognized as amongst the finest of the past decade.
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is widely recognized as being one of the finest and most versatile white wine grape varietals in the world. In their native home of France's Loire Valley, wineries have used this varietal for centuries to produce a wide range of excellent wines, made possible by the fact that the high acidity in the grapes allows vintners to produce everything from dry, still varieties, to sparkling crémants and sweet dessert wines. One of the key features of this grape, and one which has won it many admirers, is the fact that the transparency of the varietal allows it to express the finer features of the terroir it is grown on, and also allows it to demonstrate the skill of the winemaker in the bottle. These grapes are a hardy varietal, growing well in moderate climates and in heavy clay-like soils all over the wine producing world.
Region: Loire Valley
The ancient wine region of the Loire Valley in France is a perfect place to discover the country's finest examples of white wines, which are made with a highly successful blend of traditional and modern wine-making techniques. Indeed, the Loire Valley has a wine-making tradition which stretches back almost two thousand years, and today continues to be a standard bearer for fine white wines made predominantly with Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc varietal grapes. However, it also produces superb red wines from the Cabernet Franc grapes which thrive there, and plenty of excellent rosé and sparkling wines for which the region is also famous. With almost ninety controlled appellations, the Loire Valley is an extremely important region within France, and the significance of their produce cannot be overlooked.
Country: France
Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.