More from the Master of Montlouis | New 2024s from Francois Chidaine

François Chidaine is one of the Loire Valley’s great success stories. After finishing viticultural school, he went to work alongside his father, Yves, who had only four hectares of rented vineyard land in the appellation of Montlouis, in the Touraine. After Yves retired in 1989, François developed contracts with the owners of the vineyards he worked, allowing him an option to buy should the property ever come up for sale.  Step by step he expanded the estate, now owning 50 hectares - including 35 hectares of Chenin Blanc - 10ha of Vouvray and 25 ha of Montlouis.  He was joined by his wife Manuéla in 1999, and more recently, his daughter Alice and son Pierre. 

“The Pope of Montlouis and Vouvray—just a sublimely great producer. He knows his vineyards better than anyone and he styles his cuvées according to the contours of each vineyard. The wines are pure and clean, yet profoundly expressive. And they are still phenomenal value.”
- Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay, The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste

2024 Francois Chidaine VDF Vin de France Baudoin
The 2.7-hectare south-facing Clos Baudoin is one of Vouvray’s legendary sites. It had previously belonged to the Prince Poniatowski, but Chidaine had rented the vines since 2002, and has owned the plot outright since the end of 2006. There are vines up to 60 years old here, but unfortunately the entire vineyard will have to be replanted due to a virus in the soil, and Chidaine has already pulled up one hectare of vines. The small amount of wine that he does make from the rest of the Clos Baudoin is sleek and fine, with noticeably more complexity and dimension than his other Vouvrays. It’s always vinified dry.

2024 Francois Chidaine Montlouis Les Bournais
On a limestone plateau overlooking the Loire river sit Les Bournais, a vineyard Chidaine refers to as "a magical place". It had been abandoned for some time, but Chidaine was convinced that it was one of the very best sites in Montlouis, and planted vines here in 1999. Unlike most of Montlouis, which is on clay and silex, or flint, Bournais lies on clay and limestone, and the name Bournais refers to the particular type of limestone found here. Also vinified dry, the result is a powerful, full-bodied wine, probably the closest to Vouvray Sec in profile.

2024 Francois Chidaine VDF Vin de France Les Argiles
+ 2020 Francois Chidaine VDF Vin de France Les Argiles
A blend of various plots surrounding the Clos Baudoin, including L’Espagnole, Le Haut Lieu, La Chatterie, L’Homme and La Reugnières, rom 15-50 year old vines.  The clay here is deeper than in the Clos, giving a broad richness to the wine. Vinified dry.

Bonus Magnum - In Stock:

2022 Francois Chidaine Montlouis Les Epinays, 1.5L
From 60 year old vines on Argiles à Silex over Tuffeau sub-soil.  This is son Pierre’s first solo wine with the domaine, fermented & aged in 50% glass wineglobes & 50% demi-muids. 
Bottled only in magnum

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