Les Jongleurs, Julie et Toby Bainbridge 2024

Julie and Toby Bainbridge have been making waves in the Loire Valley for years now, and Les Jongleurs is one of their most approachable wines. It's pure Chenin Blanc – the grape that defines this part of France – but without any of the pretension that sometimes comes with it.

Chenin is one of those varieties that can do almost anything. In the Loire, it ranges from bone-dry and mineral to rich and honeyed, from still to sparkling. The Bainbridges keep things fresh and lively here – think orchard fruit, white flowers, a touch of honey, and that characteristic Chenin acidity that makes it so food-friendly.

What sets their wines apart is the farming. Everything is organic, minimal intervention in the cellar, and a real respect for what the grape wants to be rather than forcing it into a particular style. The result is a wine that feels alive and expressive, with enough character to be interesting but not so much that it becomes hard work.

It's the kind of bottle that works just as well on a Tuesday night with a simple roast chicken as it does at a dinner party. Chenin Blanc is criminally underrated outside of France, and wines like this show exactly why it deserves more attention.

Serve it cool, not ice cold, and let it open up a bit in the glass.