Tasting Notes
Biodynamic. Settled on a limestone plateau above the Loire, the chalky soils of Les Bournais would not be out of place on Vouvray’s première côte (home to Clos de Bourg and Le Mont). Unlike most of Montlouis—which is on clay and flint—this four-hectare vineyard lies on a pocket of clay and Bournais limestone, the stone from which it takes its name. The vines (planted in 1998) gently follow the contours of the land, right to the edge of a chalky precipice. It’s a beautiful site, and certainly one of Montlouis’ finest.
Chidaine’s vinification here is exactly the same as for the Clos de Breuil and Les Choisilles, yet the wine is clearly an altogether more ‘Vouvray’ expression of Montlouis, with a powdery, chalky structure that clearly reflects its soils and location. This is not necessarily a question of it being a better wine (although Chidaine does price it that way), simply different.- Importer Note
François Chidaine is one of the France's most exciting white wine makers. Great vineyards managed biodynamically, ultra low yields and 'hands off' élevage are the order of the day here. It gives you an idea of Chidaine's standing in the Loire that when Benjamin Dagueneau wanted to gain experience as a younger man, he went to work with Chidaine. As a collective, his wines offer a remarkably pure and vivid expression of their respective terroirs.
In terms of the regions, Montlouis is Vouvray's little brother, sitting directly across the Loire river in France's North. The analogy of siblings is a good one as the rivalry between these two regions is intense. However, as Montlouis is much smaller in size, 400 hectares as opposed to 1800 for Vouvray, and as most of the wine is consumed in France, Montlouis is less well known. - Importer Note.
| Product Type | Wine White Chenin Blanc |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Loire Valley |
| Sub Region | Montlouis |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |