2021 Baumard Coteaux du Layon Carte d'Or, Loire Valley

Baumard Coteaux du Layon Carte d’Or is a benchmark sweet Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, showing just how elegant, poised and age worthy this style can be when handled with restraint. The wine comes from the Coteaux du Layon, a series of gently sloping vineyards along the Layon River, a tributary of the Loire whose morning mists encourage noble rot and slow, concentrated ripening.

Domaine des Baumard is one of the great names of Anjou. Florent Baumard and his family have built a reputation for precision, low yields and meticulous vineyard work, with Chenin Blanc at the heart of everything they do. Carte d’Or represents a selection of the finest parcels and berries, often picked over several passes to capture optimal ripeness while preserving freshness and balance.

In the glass, Carte d’Or is luminous and expressive. Aromas of quince, ripe pear, honey and baked apple are layered with citrus peel and a subtle floral lift. On the palate it is rich yet beautifully composed, with sweetness wrapped around vibrant acidity that keeps the wine light on its feet. The texture is silky, the flavours pure and concentrated, and the finish long, fresh and gently mineral rather than cloying.

This is a superb food wine rather than simply a dessert wine. It shines alongside blue cheese, foie gras, roast poultry with fruit, spiced dishes or even lightly sweet and savoury combinations where its acidity brings harmony. It is equally compelling on its own, sipped slowly and thoughtfully.

Cellar potential is outstanding. Baumard Coteaux du Layon Carte d’Or can age for decades, developing layers of dried fruit, spice, lanolin and savoury complexity while retaining its structural backbone and freshness.

Baumard Coteaux du Layon Carte d’Or is a classic Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Elegant, deeply expressive and built for the long haul, it remains one of the most reliable and rewarding sweet wines of France.