François Pinon’s 2023 Silex Noir is dry Vouvray with a serious edge—Chenin Blanc grown on rare black flint soils that impart a smoky minerality and a taut, electric frame. The wine opens with green apple, pear skin, and citrus peel, layered over a deep core of crushed stone and subtle herbal tones. There’s a touch of waxy texture on the mid-palate, but the finish is laser-focused and bone dry. Fermented with native yeasts and farmed organically, it’s a wine that feels natural and pure, but also incredibly precise. This is Chenin is more about mineral expression than fruit ripeness. Perfect for: oysters, goat cheese, shellfish, or cellaring alongside your favorite dry Rieslings and white Burgundies. Drink it now with seafood and salty cheeses, or let it age and evolve for years into something truly profound