The source of some of the world's greatest white wines, the Loire Valley's mineral driven, long-lived Chenin Blancs and Sauvignon Blancs represent the finest renditions of these varieties. Arguably the most legendary producer in the region, Nicolas Joly has reached 'mythical status' according to Vinous, with his wines capturing their unique terroir with an incredible sense of focus and drive.

His Nicolas Joly Coulée de Serrant 2018 comes from a site that has long been considered 'one of the world's greatest vineyards' (Jancis Robinson). Planted originally by monks from the local Cistercian monastery, it has been under vine for almost 900 consecutive vintages. It is also one of only four single-vineyard appellations owned by a single estate in France, the others being Romanée-Conti, La Tâche and Chateau Grillet, exceptional company to be in.

Scoring 95 points from the Wine Spectator and 93 points from Vinous, this 'lively and powerful' (VN) Chenin Blanc has a distinctive silky texture combing with a nice zesty crunch 'while the mineral component emerges on the long, spice-infused finish' (WS). Incredibly long-lived as all the best whites from the Loire are, this will be drinking beautifully into the 2040s.

Now considered by many as the 'Godfather of Biodynamics', Joly took up the principles in reaction to his own mistakes. After leaving his successful career in finance in 1997 to return to take-over the running of the family estate from his mother, he was advised to manage the vineyards in a more modern manner by using pesticides but he soon found that his vineyards health began to decline sharply. He picked up a book on biodynamics to learn how to try and fix his error but ultimately ending up improving his vineyards far beyond what he ever imagined. The estate has been managed following biodynamic principles since 1984 and as a result Joy has become one of the greatest authorities on the subject.

Offered today at lowest market price of £355 per case IB, this rare and storied Chenin Blanc will be a credit to any serious collector's cellar and is built for a lengthy period of maturation like a great Montrachet.