Chateau de Bonnezeaux's history as a wine estate goes as far back as the early 19th century. (You're probably wondering why you haven't heard of this winery before. Well, for the last three decades they haven't made a single bottle of wine.) In the early 1980s, the winery was shut down and its holdings were rented out. Soon after, the arrangements with local winemakers fell apart and the vines were abandoned. In 2012 the family decided to resurrect this historic estate with their cousin Guyonne Saclier de la Bâtie at the helm. Part of the group of winemakers in the Anjou Noir shaking things up and strongly influenced by her work with Mark Angeli and Stéphane Bernaudeau, she set out to produce dry chenins from the great terroirs of Bonnezaux. After spending two years replanting the vineyards, 2016 was the first year Guyonne and her family felt comfortable keeping the entire production and, in turn, her inaugural vintage made quite a splash. Guyonne left the estate in 2019 but the story continues today under the youthful stewardship of Léa Meslet and Pierre Boisseaux, who together exude new energy into this historic property. Observing their ambitious replantation project, a commitment to organic vine management, micro yields, vertical champagne presses and prolonged aging in barrels, we are confident these beloved, and increasingly sought after wines are in good hands with these two. We just wish there was more bottles to be had! text from @grandcruselections