Vin de Table Français Oxygene Cire Blanche The Picrate Eric Callcut 1998

Hailing from Anjou, in the heart of the Loire Valley, this wine escapes the confines of the Anjou appellation, choosing instead to be classified as a Vin de Table in order to explore freer forms of expression. The Chenin Blanc vines grow in the purple and brown schist soils that are typical of the Anjou Noir region. These poor, well-drained soils give the grape variety a mineral purity and the rare ability to withstand long ageing processes. The grapes are harvested by hand once they are fully ripe and after gentle pressing, the juice is left to oxidise freely, without topping up, in old used barrels prior to being aged on fine lees for over 18 months.
This deep-golden wine, with flashes of copper, is intense and complex on the nose, blending aromas of fresh walnuts, dried apples, dried flowers and honey with a slight saltiness. The attack on the palate is full and marked by noble oxidation, vibrant tension and a long, almost chalky finish.