Mai & Kenji Hodgson

Anjou, France

Mai and Kenji Hodgson are the defacto ex-pat underdogs of the Anjou, whom since moving to the area from their previous Canadian and Japanese upbringings, have become standard-bearers of Chenin Blanc made in the autolytic styles of Richard Leroy, both neighbor and mentor.

Luchini fallling from the sky.

White and Rouge now in, Luchini being a cuvée not made every year by Mai and Kenji, but what we have here is a Chenin from two vintages, 22+23 that is just delicious straight up no hassle bistro Chenin, but in that linear style with a lick of acid that is just way too easy to drink. I’ve become so particular with Chenin lately. It’s a grape that I really thought I understood at a point, but I guess I never really understand anything in such a shifting dynamic landscape such as vin nature. I mean, why the fuck would I think to myself, “yeah I really understand Chenin now” ever. So dumb. But yeah, this is how I like my “simple” Chenin if it’s not done in the style of J-F Chéné, Panier des Fruits being his “simple” Chenin. All good if you disagree, but more and more Chéné is my benchmark for Chenin in all of his styles; sweet, oxidative, dry. I can’t deal with just clean boring Chenin lacking in acid, it’s a problem. So I ordered a glass at Cafe 2001 the other day at lunch (lunch drinking on a weekday in LA wow) and it was drank way too fast, and honestly slapped with the tripes and pea soup (tripes and pea soup in LA wow) that’s on the menu there now. To anyone going to Cafe 2001 and just posting a fucking picture of your matcha and tart you’re doing it totally wrong.

And well the Luchini Rouge has Syrah in it. I mean how can anyone understand anything anymore when you’re drinking a nice light bistro red from the Anjou and it has Syrah in it? It’s good. Hodgsons in full effect here with their diffusion Luchini line, and our good pal Lara illustrated the labels also. Stop sleeping on buying good wines, generally.

Luchini Blanc 22/23
Chenin Blanc
$31

Luchini Rouge 23
Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, Syrah
$31