Les Vignes de l'Ange Vin, L'Iris 2020

Les Vignes de l'Ange Vin is the domain of legendary natural winemaker, artist and eccentric Jean-Pierre Robinot. After opening one of the first bars dedicated to natural wine in Paris, he returned to his home of Loire and took over steep hillside plots across appellations Jasnières and the Coteaux-du-Loir. Planted over a combination of limestone, red clay and flinty, silica-rich soils, the vines are tended to by hand using natural herbicides made from surrounding nettles and ferns. Vinification follows this gentle practise with grapes pressed slowly using no additional sulphites or preservatives. L'Iris 20 is 100% Chenin Blanc, pressed directly into used oak barrels on fine lees and aged for two years. This can only be described as electric. The nose is reminiscent of fresh paint and slate wet with rain, complementing the initial fresh, saline flavours. As it opens, notes of underripe stone fruits, quince and green papaya come into play. As full of energy as the winemaker himself. L'Iris 2020 would pair well with mushroom pithivier.