Francois Pinon, Vouvray Sec, 2022

François Pinon is one of Vouvray's most conscientious producers — organic farming, native yeasts, and a commitment to letting Chenin Blanc speak without cosmetic intervention. A Vouvray Sec from Pinon is Chenin at its most unadorned: no sweetness to cushion the acidity, no heavy oak to soften the mineral edge. The 2022 vintage was generous and ripe in the Loire, but Pinon's soils — tuffeau limestone — kept the wine honest. This is a wine for people who want to understand what great dry Chenin Blanc tastes like before it costs a fortune.