2006 Domaine des Baumard Clos du Papillon Savennieres Loire

Off the top of my head, we’d say the toughest wines for us to source—and the wines we wish we could offer about a hundred times more often than we do—are pristine, perfectly cellared library whites.

We were thinking about this as we sipped glasses of the rich, layered, impeccably aged 2006 Domaine des Baumard Clos du Papillon Savennières. 

Chablis has Raveneau. Burgundy has Lafon. And the Loire Valley’s tiny, one-of-a-kind, white-wine appellation of Savennières, one of the most prestigious in France, has Domaine des Baumard, the icon whose dense, complex, fascinating wines don’t just linger in your mind—they take up permanent residence. 

This 2006 is a rarity of the first order: A practically ageless Loire white cellared at the domaine for over a decade and a half. This is a must for any lover of white wine, and it provides the kind of experience that deserves a full description. Medium-straw with brassy highlights, the nose opens to reveal layers of Anjou pear, dried apricot, honeysuckle, smoked almonds, and candied ginger. It’s luscious, textured, and evolving on the palate, with compact flavors of honey-drizzled fig, orange blossom, marzipan, and dried mango, all leading to a finish that delivers the signature acidity of Chenin Blanc. 

The walled-in Clos du Papillon benefits from its perfect south-southeast exposure, essential for nurturing slow-maturing Chenin to optimal ripeness. Grown in a rugged mix of volcanic debris intermingled with sandstone and granite, the wine features a beautiful minerality that endures, even through decades of maturation. 

This is a truly special bottle, and we’re thrilled to bring it to you. 

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Sweetness
• Acidity

• ABV 14.00%
• Enjoy right away
• Now – 2029
• % Chenin Blanc
• Serving temperature – 48°
• Stelvin