📜 Bonnezeaux

Bonnezeaux is a sweet white wine from Chenin Blanc on the slopes of the Layon valley in Anjou in western France. The name is protected as a PDO. It is a small appellation, mostly near the village of Thouarcé.

Chenin Blanc gives wine of high acidity here, which matters for sweet wines. In autumn the berries stay on the vine longer than usual, noble rot develops on them and the sugar concentrates. The harvest is picked by hand in several passes, choosing only the right berries. The result is a golden sweet wine with notes of honey, quince, apricot and citrus that keeps very well: for decades. Acidity balances the sweetness and keeps the wine fresh.

Bonnezeaux is part of Anjou-Saumur, a region in the Loire valley. The slopes face south and are sheltered from winds, so it is warmer here. The wine is regarded as one of the best sweet wines of the Loire. It is served chilled, with fruit desserts, foie gras and blue cheeses. The small size of the appellation makes the wine fairly rare and expensive. For lovers of sweet wines, Bonnezeaux is an example of how Chenin Blanc shines in a sweet style.