For seekers of the finest, most chiseled white wines, this 2021 Domaine des Baumard Clos du Papillon Savennieres is a mandatory bottle to secure. Due to global demand, this 2021 release is highly allocated in the States, but we've secured the first tranche of this precious juice before it vanishes. It offers one of the most long-lived white wines on the planet at an incredibly affordable price compared to Grand Cru Burgundy or elite, single-site Sancerres. Arguably the most important expression of Chenin Blanc on earth, it is born from a legendary, butterfly-shaped vineyard cradled on a steep, volcanic schist hillside along the Loire River. This is a towering expression of mineralogy and electrical acidity, and while young Savennières is famously tight, this 2021 release is just starting to open up and soften.

Domaine des Baumard’s masterful dry white wines span an unusual range of concentration and longevity. Universally regarded as the finest winemakers in the appellation, Jean Baumard and his son, Florent, treat this grand cru-tier site with relentless reverence. By blocking malolactic fermentation and aging the wine entirely oak-free on its fine lees in stainless steel, they act as true stewards of this specific terroir. The resulting wine is a pure time capsule, proving that old-vine Chenin Blanc from Savennières belongs in the same immortal conversation as elite German Riesling.

Because Baumard blocks secondary fermentation and seals these bottles under high-quality screwcaps, the wine undergoes a stunning chemical transformation in the cellar rather than oxidizing on the shelf. As it ages, the austere, volcanic minerality deepens into a waxy coat, while the piercing acidity rounds into a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel. Right out of the gate, it jolts the senses with chiseled stone, cold rainwater, and yellow peach, before melting into a deep coating of beeswax and dried honey. This head-turning bottle of pure volcanic tension will develop magnificently over the next decade, remaining bone-dry while expanding into a textured harmony of candied orange rind and toasted nuts. If your mouth is salivating just reading this, then it's time to click to order your share.

Santé!