Allen Meadow 93 (2021)
 
A soft application of wood sets off distinctly cool but ripe and spicy white orchard fruit and floral aromas that reflect additional notes of citrus. There is impressive density to the generously proportioned and surprisingly powerful flavors that display good tension before terminating in a mouthcoating, impressively long and citrus-inflected finish. This is also beautifully textured and overall, really quite impressive plus it should amply repay a decade plus of keeping.

Sylvain Langoureau has been directing this 9 ha domaine since 1989 which he says is now farmed entirely organically. He briefly describes 2021 as a "disaster of a vintage for the quantities as most whites were off between 70 and 90% though the pinot, because bud break occurs later, was only off around 30%. We picked from the 18th of September and the fruit was clean and reasonably ripe as potential alcohols came in between 12 and 12.5%, which is just fine for the style of wine I want to make. Stylistically, 2021 is a vintage that used to be common but has become rarer since climate change. I would compare it to either 2014 or 2017 as the wines are super-fresh and super-refreshing. I love the vintage and especially for its transparency to the underlying terroir." Langoureau has again fashioned some really lovely wines and given the reasonable price points for which they tend to sell, these are wines to absolutely check out if by chance you are not familiar with them.